Napa 2016 harvest gets under way

Recent warm weather has helped grapes achieve optimal ripeness leading to what Napa Valley Grapegrowers says is another early but high-quality harvest.

Grape-pickers celebrate the start of the 2016 Napa harvest (Napa Valley Vintners)

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) and Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) announced on July 29 that the first grapes of the 2016 Napa Valley vintage had made their way from the vineyard to the crush pad.

Local grapegrowers and vintners would begin picking aromatic white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc over the next week to 10 days, a statement from the groups said, adding that recent warm temperatures had promoted a smooth transition from veraison to full ripeness.

The start of the 2016 harvest is earlier than average for the Napa region, but the first picking date is similar to that of the past three years.

Early budbreak followed by warm weather and spring rains brought a rapid start to the growing season.

“The ripening has gone well and it’s been a wonderful season with beautiful weather from bloom, to berry set, to hard seed, through veraison,” said Garrett Buckland, president of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers.

Grapegrowers reported that the average number of berries per cluster is higher than the historical average in some blocks, but overall, yields were at or slightly below average. Buckland, however, remained buoyant, remarking that the harvest promised grapes of “tremendous quality”.

“Yield looks good to me,” he said. “This year is expected to be close to average with Cabernet Sauvignon slightly below the normal average. However, while yield is important, it is not the only factor in wine quality. We are anticipating tremendous quality this year.”

The first grapes coming in at Mumm winery in the Napa Valley (Napa Valley Vintners)

Grapegrowers are busy finishing canopy work, continuing to thin fruit as needed and keeping a close eye on soil moisture before settling in for a busy couple of months of picking ahead. Full-on harvest mode is not expected to begin until the third week of August, but may come earlier depending on heat and elevated temperatures.

Notes from the cellar

“For winemakers, harvest is our championship season. It’s the culmination of 12 months of rigorous work and concentrated effort to make the best wines possible,” commented Michael Honig, president of Honig Vineyard and Winery, and vice chair of the NVV Board of Directors.

As the grapes are ripening in the vineyard, Honig said vintners are busy in their cellars bottling recent vintages and making tank and barrel space ready for the wines that will result from this year’s crop.

“It’s the calm before the storm,” added Honig. “Vintners are getting their wineries in tip-top shape, cleaning and checking equipment to ensure we’re ready. Vacations and time off are behind us and we’re rested and ready for the 24/7 nature of the months ahead.”

Winemakers are also out walking the vineyards with their grapegrower partners, participating in the process of deciding the optimal time to pick their grapes.

“We’re excited for the promise of a fifth consecutive high quality harvest. Looks like it’s going to be another winning season in the Napa Valley,” said Honig.

Wine lovers wishing to follow the progress of the 2016 Napa Valley harvest as it unfolds can click here for continuous social media coverage direct from Napa Valley’s vintners. The site also includes photos from some of the first days of the 2016 harvest, along with videos, recipes and educational games.