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16 WINES&VINES November 2016 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS S an Rafael, Calif.—Wines & Vines' periodic reports from diverse wine- growing regions throughout the spring and summer indicated a relatively peaceful growing season. As crush wound down in mid-October, wine grape growers and winemakers throughout Cali- fornia and the Northwest indicated favorable quality and yields. For Dane Stark, winemaker and proprietor of 3,300-case Page Mill Winery in Livermore, Calif., 2016 was "not a harvest of weirdness, but rather a welcome return to normal." Heat waves were weaker and shorter than ex- pected, allowing crops to mature evenly. "Yields are back up, heat stress is down, and vineyards are more balanced in overall health than the past few years, providing more normal chemistry at the crush pad," he said. Stark started picking for sparkling wines Aug. 17 and at press time said he expected to finish harvest around Halloween. At 5,000-case McGrail Vineyards and Win- ery, also in the Livermore Valley, president Heather McGrail said she expected more than double the 2015 volume, with estate Caber- net Sauvignon at 64 tons compared to 30 last year. Cabernet berries were small and con- centrated with long clusters, she said. Alyssa Barber, assistant winemaker at the 100,000-case Concannon Vineyard founded in 1883, reported that Concannon had har- vested 150 tons of grapes at press time and expected to finish with 200 tons by Oct. 15. She said that steady 80° F temperatures pro- vided perfect conditions for concentrating natural flavors. More from California and beyond Tyler Thomas, winemaker at 25,000-case Di- erberg & Star Lane Vineyard in Santa Barbara, Calif., called the 2016 harvest healthy in size but not overly ample, with yields slightly above average. The ripening and harvest seasons were very cool, the first of the previous four in which Cabernet Sauvignon was not harvested in August. Thomas expected to pick with good concentration, with no pressure to push vines too far into the season. He said quality was terrific for the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and that he expected noth- ing less from the Bordeaux varieties, with Cabernet Sauvignon more lush than 2014, less austere than 2015. The view from Paso Robles was peaceful. With tonnage about double from 2015, Kevin Jussila at 2,500-case Kukkula Winery in Paso Robles said harvest was complete Sept. 25, save less than a ton of Mourvedre, but he refrained from predicting quality yet. Alta Colina Winery (2,000 cases) brought in its last fruit Oct. 1, closing the door on another early harvest with excellent quantity (averaging 3.4 tons per acre vs. 2.9 tons per acre during the past three years), and the second largest harvest in its 12-year history. At 18,000-case Halter Ranch Vineyard & Winery in Paso Robles, Kevin Sass said Cab- ernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and a bit of Grenache Blanc were the only varieties left to pick, calling them "the usual suspects for Oc- We've Got the Competition Beat by More Than a Foot! • Proprietary one-piece 59" dimples are larger than the rest of the industry • More effective heating and cooling at any level • Tanks from 250 gallons to 250,000 gallons • Reduce plumbing costs with greater dimple coverage • Westec's team is ready to help with your tank design or tank farm layout Industry Leading One-Piece 59" Dimple Jackets "Westec has custom-designed and built all of our tanks, catwalks and transfer lines for our specific needs. We value their craftsmanship, creativity, and expertise and highly recommend them as makers of premium wine tanks." – BECKY, PICKETT ROAD WINE COMPANY Call us today for more information and estimates. (707) 431-9342 | westectank.com C M Y CM MY CY CMY K westec_ad_winesandvines_dec2015.pdf 1 10/28/15 11:56 AM TOP STORY West Coast Wine Grape Harvest Almost Over