What’s happening in the vineyards as harvest approaches? The Turrentine Grape Team (Erica Moyer, Audra Cooper, Mike Needham, Alicia Kump) have highlighted what they are hearing and seeing in the vineyards throughout California.

North Coast     

Dry Creek Zinfandel

• Most of the North Coast is in bloom or finished at this point, for the early varieties.
  

  Russian River Merlot

• Crop size looks similar to 2014
• Crop is 2 weeks to 10 days ahead of last year.  Sparkling wine could start picking in mid-July if we keep tracking the same as we have been.
• There have been isolated spots of frost damage in the North Coast

Sonoma County

• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir finished with bloom
• Cabernet Sauvignon in the middle of bloom
• Earlier red varieties (Merlot, Petite Sirah) over half way through bloom
  

  Oakdale Petit Verdot

Lodi/Delta

Lodi Pinot Noir

• Vines are happy and healthy.  West of Lodi, some vines got beat up with hail and there were isolated pockets of frost earlier.  But all in all, vines are well into set and holding.
• Southern Interior off to an early start and looking to an early harvest!

Central Coast

• Monterey and San Benito County, came out of the gate early with above normal temperatures but recent cooler temperatures have slowed growth and bloom to a more “normal” season.

• We are 5 days ahead or on par with last year in the Central Coast, which is still early.

San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara

• The crop is looking lighter than very early crop estimates, primarily for Paso Robles reds but also for Santa Barbara County grapes.  That being said, we still expect at least an average crop for Santa Barbara County.  Paso Robles is a little more challenging to gauge as crop estimates are all over the board.
• Cabernet Sauvignon could be average to a little on the light side if we do not get decent sizing.