SANTA MARIA, Calif. - This year's unusually cooler temperatures caused Will Henry, owner of Sierra Madre Vineyard to delay harvest by almost a month.
“This definitely was a unique year in this decade. In the last six or seven years, we've had early harvests because of warmer temperatures.
In addition to the late start in the spring, there was an extended growing season.
Henry said the extended growing season creates a higher quality product, as it creates a greater balance of sugar and acid in the fruit.
“So we definitely have that this year. I think the grape quality is going to be fantastic,” Henry said.
But the late harvest means that everyone is needs to crush their grapes at once, and right away.
Winemaker Ricky Hill at Tantara is overwhelmed with calls from growers who need to get their fruit crushed.
This week alone, Hill said he received requests from at least 10 wine growers.
“From August to now, with temperatures in mid to high 70s, it's sped everything up,” Hill said.
Hill said the downside of this harvest is it creates a challenge in making sure everyone gets their grapes crushed before it's too late.
“A lot of people will pick grapes all at once. It's going to put a lot of pressure in the logistics of picking, getting people to pick the grapes, getting picking bins and having everything ready at the winery. It's going to happen in a very fast amount of time,” Hill said.
However intense of a time period this year's harvest may be, one wine-grower is proud of whatever this year's flavors may bring.
“Santa Barbara County is slowly becoming one of the best wine growing regions in the world. So better harvests means more recognition for what we do,” Henry said.
KCOY 12 contacted managers at Paso Robles Wine Alliance. They are expecting a higher yield due to increased wet weather earlier this year.
