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Saint Helena, Napa Valley

I’ve put some thought into the numbering of these vineyard updates. As it is a new year, should I start over with update number one?

Well, as you can see, I decided not to; I figured that the vineyards don’t operate according to our little annual calendar.

Perhaps I will start over when the growing season begins again [...]

Driving down valley today, we noticed the first of the mustard has just started to bloom.

The mustard season is one of the most striking, as the vineyards are blanketed in billowing blooms of tiny yellow flowers.

It seems to me that this year the mustard is early. I’m not sure if that’s because we haven’t had [...]

Taken at the vineyard across from Crane Park–which, earlier in the season, was also featured here:

While Sangiovese is not a grape varietal widely planted in the Napa Valley, there are a handful of producers such as Benessere Vineyards in Calistoga.

I do not know the exact date these grapes were picked, but due to the recent wild weather, I understand that most grapes that will come in, have come in.

While I understand that the majority of the grapes in the Napa Valley have been brought in (that’s vineyard-speak for picked), this vineyard in Rutherford remains to be harvested.

And while driving down-valley today, we noticed that quite a few vineyards have also not yet been picked.

With showers forecasted, things will get even more interesting this week as rain can have all [...]

Barnett Vineyards, Harvest Party

Situated high in the mountains above Knights Valley, this one of the most striking vineyards I’ve ever seen:

Harvest has begun in the Napa Valley.

From what I gather, the grapes destined to become sparkling wine are coming in–a bit behind schedule even.

But here in the more northern parts of the valley (where I live), the grapes are still on the vines.

If you are looking for a more definitive analysis of harvest, or are [...]

In these vineyard updates, I’ve never intimated that I am an expert on viticulture, vineyard management or winegrowing. Because I am not.

In fact, I am on more of the sales & marketing side of the wine industry. And I like it there.

With these updates, as with this whole site, my aim is to give you a glimpse of what I experience living in [...]