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After a few false starts, it seems that Spring has finally, gloriously arrived.

Below we have a tulip garden and a vineyard located at the bridge on Rutherford Cross Road.

So yes, I am behind in these updates (sorry).
But grapes are coming in fast & furious now so stay tuned as the 2010 harvest plays out.

Towards Nickel & Nickel Winery

Grape Clusters 28 Weeks Post Bud Break

Towards Robert Mondavi Winery

Here are shots of the same vineyard in Oakville that I’ve been featuring all this season. You can see the update from three weeks ago here.

From what I hear from my winemaker friends, almost everything this season is delayed–yet growth and development is steady.

I was told this is due to the late rains and the thus-far mostly mild weather.

Of course, everything can change in these next few days…or weeks…or months…

Towards Nickel & Nickel Winery

Grape Clusters Sixteen Weeks Post Bud Break

Toward Robert Mondavi Winery

These shots were taken in the same vineyard as Update #2.

It’s amazing how much growth has occurred in three weeks time.

Nickel & Nickel Winery in Background

Grape Clusters Six Weeks Post-Bud Break

Robert Mondavi Winery in Background

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 that much rain yet, it hasn’t been that cold yet, or that I am just not remembering right.

Anyway, this was taken in the vineyard across from Crane Park. You can see more of this same vineyard during the past year here and here and here.

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 interested in reading more about the experience directly from the winery point-of-view, check out what my friends are doing over at The Cork Board.

Only in the Napa Valley, do you get to attend a four year-old’s birthday party at a place like this:

Princess Playhouse

Which is situated along the Napa River; whose neighbor across the river is:

The Back of Opus One

And with this view:

View North, to Mt Saint Helena

And with wine. Bubbles, actually.

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 the Napa Valley.

But in this update, I wanted to share a bit more detail on what is happening in the vineyards. Because it’s interesting (at least I think so).

In the photos below, you’ll see grape bunches containing green grapes, purple grapes and all sorts of shades in between. This color variation is due to a phase of berry growth (did you non-wine industry readers know grapes are called berries?) called veraison.

You can read more about the technical aspects of veraison here.

Simply, veraison is the term used to describe the point at which the green, unripe grapes begin to change color to purple on their way to ripening. The process is akin to an unripe, green tomato becoming increasingly more and more red, until it’s ready to be picked.

And, just as it’s exciting to see that tomato grow, ripen and become a caprese salad, veraison is an amazing time.

Not only does it signal that summer is beginning to wind down, but also that the always-much-anticipated harvest time is coming.

Plus it’s pretty.

These photos were taken near Crane Park in Saint Helena: