2012: Turrentine Weekly Harvest Update Wednesday, October 3

What’s happening in the vineyards as harvest progresses? The Turrentine Grape Team will be highlighting what they are hearing and seeing in the vineyards throughout California every week.

Central Coast

• Monterey County Chardonnay is just starting to be harvested; starting a little later than normal, too early to determine crop size
• Heat has returned to Central Coast, Paso experienced triple digit weather. A cool down expected later in the week.
• Some Paso Merlot and Syrah yields have been picked at below expectations
• Later ripening sites of Zinfandel may be earlier than anticipated
• Cabernet Sauvignon remains tight in Paso; yields while expected to be average, may prove to be light.  Early Cabernet Sauvignon sites are picking out up to 20% below projections.
• Truckloads of Zinfandel in West & East Paso, 3 loads of Pinot Blanc from southern San Luis Obispo County, and 50 tons of westside Paso Merlot available.

North Coast

• Chardonnay is 60% harvested
• Cabernet Sauvignon starting to be picked on Howell Mountain
• Sauvignon Blanc 95% picked,  yields above average
• Pinot Noir picking out above estimates in Sonoma County, and we are finding homes for all extra tons
• Sonoma Zinfandel harvest is just getting started; yields so far above projections

Interior

• Ruby Cabernet good sugar, earlier than last year
• Cabernet Sauvignon; Northern Interior; is 1 week away, Southern Interior is just beginning
• Southern Interior; all varieties are ahead of last year
• Zinfandel is making progress; still trying to get brix up to 24°