7/31/2013 - St. Helena, CA--The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) trade association reports the first of Napa Valley's sparkling wine producers will start picking wine grapes tomorrow, just a week to ten days earlier than in 2012. Grapes for Napa Valley sparkling wines are the first to be harvested, capturing the bright acidity for which these wines are prized.
After grapes for sparkling wines are picked, next up are a diverse spectrum of white wine grapes, then lighter red wine grapes such as those for Pinot Noir, with all roads then leading to the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest, which can last into late October or early November in Napa Valley's hillside vineyards.
"The 2013 growing season has been a very good year for all of our grape growers," commented Ludovic Dervin, winemaker for Mumm Napa, who will begin picking tomorrow. "It started with a very dry winter and spring, which gave us a bit of a scare as water reserves are very important to ensure a smooth growing season for our vines. But Mother Nature compensated with mild weather during spring so we didn't have to use much water for frost protection, and could wisely use it for the vine canopy growth. The crop looks good and healthy at this point, with yields slightly above average. It is not as big as 2012, but still on the high side. Overall, we are on track for an excellent vintage."
Napa Valley's other leading sparkling wine producers, Domaine Chandon and Schramsberg Vineyards, will begin picking in the next one to two weeks.
Starting August 16, the NVV will chronicle "Harvest Napa Valley 2013: The Grapest Story Ever Told" at www.napavintners.com.
About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents more than 450 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the worldwide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit www.napavintners.com
Contact: Cate Conniff, Communications Manager 707.968.4229 cconniff@napavintners.com
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