Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/74662
VINT A GE 2010 MADERA COUNTY The long, sustained growing season resulted in an unusually high acid level in most grape varieties, and subsequently it produced fantastically balanced wines with incredible aromas and flavors. Weather: A somewhat normal bud break belied a long growing season and harvest dates a full two weeks later than normal. Supply/Demand: Somewhat higher grape prices in the Madera area, especially for grapes pre-contracted with wineries. Tools/Techniques: Overall continued increase in mechanical har- vesting due to limited field labor. Varieties: Viognier continues to surprise a lot of people with its rich peachy characters. Petit Verdot is sparking interest with growers. Michael Blaylock Winemaker, Quady Winery MARIPOSA AND MERCED COUNTIES Good crops of Merlot and Syrah. Weather: Maturity was very late—a whole month in some spots. Showers just as harvest was approaching did not cause disease- related damage but did cause sugars to drop. The grapes did not suffer as a result. Pests/Diseases: No sign of light brown apple moth, European grapevine moth or brown marmorated stink bug. Potential for powdery mildew was quashed by tight treatment schedules. Supply/Demand: A small amount of tonnage went unsold in Mari- posa County, but most sold everything. Everything was fairly easy to sell this year in Merced. QualityStainless_Apr05 3/9/05 11:12 AM Page 1 Quality - Value - Experience Quality Stainless Tanks • Professionally crafted • Perfomance guaranteed • Custom designs & features • Quick & competitive pricing • Repairs & modifications • Special application tanks • Stainless winery equipment • Tanks in stock for immediate shipping from 500 to 10,000 gallon capacity Quality Stainless Tanks 510 Caletti Avenue • Windsor, CA 95492 Phone: 707.837.2721 • Fax: 707.837.2733 Toll-Free: 877.598.0672 www.qualitystainless.com winetanks@aol.com QSEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #918 94 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2011 Fabricated Stainless Cooperage Custom Logistics: Small European grapevine moth quarantine zone in Merced with no moths found. Maxwell Norton Farm advisor, UC Cooperative Extension AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES Yield was below average for Pinot Noir and average to slightly above average for Chardonnay, Merlot and Caber- net Sauvignon. Riesling yields were down on sites where the incidence of sunburn was elevated. The harvest of late-season varietals was delayed, with small lots still not harvested by mid-November. MONTEREY, SAN BENITO Weather: The 2010 season will be remembered as one of very cool temperatures spiked by short heat waves. Larry Bettiga Viticulture farm advisor, UC Cooperative Extension Overall good quality and average to below-average yields. Har- vest generally started two weeks late, causing a very compressed harvest with high labor demands during a short time period. Lower yields were attributed to heat damage and thinning. Generally, fruit was harvested at lower Brix than usual; cooler temperatures facilitated physiological ripening at lower Brix. NAPA COUNTY Weather: Cool, wet spring followed by unusually cool summer. August heat wave resulted in crop damage. Warm fall weather helped ripen the crop; harvest period was compressed. VintersSupply_acciai_Dec10.qxp 11/10/10 10:38 AM Page 1 20 Years Experience in Stainless Steel Manufacturing • Cross-flow Systems • Sheet Filters • Lenticular Filter Housings • Cartridge Filter Housings & Micro-filtration Plants • Lees Press Filters • Combination Filters • Pressure Leaf Filters • Tank Washers • Catwalks and Stairs VINTNERS SUPPLY COMPANY™ P.O. BOX 153 ST. HELENA, CA 94574-0153 TOLL FREE: 800-366-6809 • FAX: 707-584-7902 www.vintnerssupply.com QSEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #510