California praises 2010 vintage

California’s winemakers have hailed the 2010 harvest as a success despite a 12% drop in production due to difficult growing conditions.

The harvest was delayed by several weeks after northern California endured its coldest summer in 50 years.

The summer of 2010 was unseasonably cold and wet along the Californian coast, which led to many winegrowers trimming fruit or pulling leaves to encourage fruit maturity and many regions reported lower than normal yields.

According to the Californian Department of Food and Agriculture, which published its crop forecast in the first week of October, 3.3 million tons will be produced, down 6% from the August forecast and 12% from last year.
 
But despite all the challenges thrown up by the weather, many Napa and Sonoma winegrowers highlighted the benefits brought about from these peculiar conditions and how they dealt with it.

Michael Weis, winemaker from Groth Vineyards & Winery in the Napa Valley, said: “This year we went from winter directly to fall with very little time for normal summer vineyard activities.”

Many vintners expect the wine to display a more restrained and elegant style. Michael Phillips, co-owner of Michael-David winery in Lodi, was enthusiastic about the quality despite the low temperatures. “The cooler summer created very balanced grapes and wine," he said.

“We were done with harvest by the time it rained in October, and all the fruit was in great shape…Lodi will be a shining star of California’s 2010 vintage."

The positive reaction appears common to winemakers all over the state of California. Senior vice-president of vineyard operations for Trinchero Family Estates, Hal Huffsmith, said: “Wine quality should be good to very good, judging from the chemistries coming from grapes harvested throughout the nine counties in California where we have vineyards.”

In the southern county of San Diego, Alex McGeary, Shadow Mountain Vineyards owner, denied the bizarre weather had any affect on overall production saying: "The harvest was up and good, with a 20% increase for three years in a row.”

Jerome Butcher, 09.12.2010