Harvest 2011

Bringing 2011 to a close was a labor. The season started with a series of frosts that greatly reduced the crop but after that the season was rather gentle on Canelo Hills Vineyard. No major weather or pest events threatened the fruit and as usual Joan's farming resulted in fabulous fruit. I suppose the fact that we got any crop at all in 2011 after the devastating August 2010 hail storm is a miracle and a tribute to Farmer Joan.









We ended up with very little of anything but for the Tempranillo. Perhaps a ton and a half of Tempranillo got harvested on September 19, about two weeks later than is typical. The fruit was beautiful. Joan and the picking crew scoured the rest of the vineyard and came up with a few hundred pounds of mixed Syrah, Zinfandel, Riesling and Malvasia. It all got tossed in with the Tempranillo so techincally the 2011 Vintage of Tempranillo is a bit of a field blend.




Last weekend I finished off the major tasks of Harvest and initial winemaking. It is always a mixture of sadness and relief when I clean up the press and push it back into the winery for the winter, awaiting 2012. Such is the cycle of winemaking.

Harvest 2011

It has begun. This past Saturday Viognier arrived from Sierra Vista Vineyard in Sasabe, AZ. Melissa Owen is the grower for this unique plot of earth just adjacent to the Mexican Border. Harvest always fills the winery with excitement and promise. White grapes ripen before red grapes and lead the vintage - a harbinger of the year to come. The 2010 Viognier from this same vineyard is a lovely white wine and is currently on the tasting table. This 2011 fruit will certainly make a wine every bit as delightful.