Ryan Beauregard, winemaker for Beauregard Vineyards in Santa Cruz, posted an excerpt from the excellent book, “Late Harvest: Wine History of the Santa Cruz Mountains,” written in 1983 by Michael Holland, on Facebook as he picked Coast Grade and Ben Lomond Ranch pinot noir last week, a full month later than last year. He noted that the book referred to 1982 thusly: “This season is a normal ripening season.”
Indeed, we are back to times more typical of the 1990s and 2000s, before the heat spells got progressively more common, culminating in the plus 110-degree 10-day Labor Day scourge of 2022.
Happy to harvest without the firedragon breathing down their necks, the Fogarty team began with pinot noir from Razorback Vineyard, as well as Swan clone pinot noir from Wills Cabin on Skyline, the first week of October. It will be grapes galore for the next two weeks, including Kings Mountain Vineyards pinot noir. Viticulturist Ken Swegles says he’s about 40% through harvest at Ascona on Skyline Boulevard, including some beautiful Aligote. Marty Mathis had already brought in his whites, including Godello from the Guichard Vineyard in Saratoga, and expects to pick his estate cab sauv in the next 10 days. Steven Mirassou will pick Zayante merlot from Felton this week.
Dave Moulton of Burrell School expects a busy week, finally, beginning with fruit from Pichon Vineyard above the Lexington Reservoir. In 2017, he had already harvested everything by Oct 4.
Dan Lokteff of Wrights Station started with estate pinot noir on Sept. 29, more than three weeks later than typical, along with pinot gris and pinot noir from Lago Lomita vineyard. He got a miniscule amount of cabernet sauvignon from Ormsby Trail, having lost some to poor fruit set, and sees lower yields overall. Lago Lomita sangiovese, cab sauv and cab franc should be picked by this weekend.
Harvest celebrations
Cinnabar celebrates its 40th anniversary with a Harvest Fest and Grape Stomp on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Gilroy winery, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 general and $65 for wine club members at https://www.cinnabarwinery.com/product/2023-Harvest-Festival
Also on Oct. 14, Cooper-Garrod in Saratoga has live music and pizza from Wood-Fired Woodie from 6-9 p.m. at $45 per person, and Silver Mountain offers fresh oysters, handmade lumpia, art and live music by the Summit Sisters from noon-5 p.m. at its Santa Cruz Mountains winery.
And finally, taste all the Gold medal-winning Sonoma wines from the 2023 Sonoma Harvest Fair Wine Competition at the Grand Tasting on Oct. 14 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. VIP access at noon; general admission at 1 p.m. Tickets are $75 general and $150 for VIP at https://harvestfair.org/tasting-pavilion
Santa Cruz Mountains Passport
Grab a new passport and explore the latest Santa Cruz Mountains winery tasting rooms, including Aptos Vineyard and Doon to Earth in Aptos, on Oct. 21. Be sure to visit Four Points by Sheraton, Santa Cruz Scotts Valley, where a selection of Wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains will be poured for Passport. Chaminade Resort and Spa will host Lago Lomita Vineyards, and Kings Mountain Vineyards will be at VinoCruz. Tickets are $90 or $150 for two at https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/events/passport
Vine to Wine
The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley welcome you to celebrate the life cycle of the grape with their annual harvest festival on Nov. 4 at Saratoga’s Mountain Winery, beginning with the VIP experience at 1 p.m. led by master sommelier Evan Goldstein. This tasting will spotlight top-rated Santa Clara Valley wines. The Grand Tasting begins at 3 p.m., including sparkling and dessert wines at a Bubbly Bar, plus gourmet bites prepared by Cochi’s Catering, along with a vendor marketplace of home décor, jewelry, and clothing and live music. Tickets are $60-$135 at Eventbrite.com
Touching Lives
Since the inception of its Touching Lives initiative in partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. 15 years ago., J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines has contributed $3 from every purchase of J. Lohr Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon to support the foundation’s vital breast cancer education and early detection programs. The initiative has recently surpassed $1 million in donations and has facilitated over 8,000 mammograms for women in need.
In sad news, John Overstreet, a longtime partner in Villa del Monte Winery in the Summit area, passed away quite unexpectedly on Sept 28 from a massive heart attack. He was 62.
