Merryvale is in the press! Check out these great articles...

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Merryvale Vineyards has been featured in many wine publications and magazines in the last few weeks, from the Quarterly Review of Wines to Touring & Tasting Magazine...

Click here to read the latest articles...

Merryvale and Starmont wines have also been receiving some great scores in both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines.

Click here for all the latest ratings and reviews!

From the Vineyard: 2009 Vintage

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Winegrower and Vineyard Operations Manager at Merryvale, Remi Cohen is keeping us up-to-date on what's happening in the vineyard...
Grape Cluster in early June

"Grape growing is never predictable! In the first week of May, we experienced unseasonably wet and cool weather, with over an inch of rain in most areas of Napa Valley. But weather pushed into the 90s for May 16th and 17th and bloom started very rapidly in all varieties. Good weather occurred during the first weeks of bloom, and the early varieties such as Chardonnay set well. Chardonnay has big clusters this year with a lot of berries, and viticulturists are predicting an above average crop. At this point, the berries still seem small so the larger crop may be balanced by smaller, more concentrated berries. Pinot noir, which normally has small clusters, has slightly larger and denser clusters, so we are predicting an average to above average yield there too.

"However, June began cool and cloudy and we even experienced some light rains, which slowed bloom in the later varieties. This prolonged set and made it more variable, with shatter in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Until we see how the berries grow, it is hard to tell how big the crop will be in these varieties, but there are many areas where the clusters are very loose. If the berries stay small, the crop can be below average in some areas. If the berries grow to average size, we can have an average crop.

"The late spring rains enhanced the vine vigor. Canopies remain quite healthy, and vines around the valley are looking robust. Growers are working rapidly to catch up with all of the vine growth. In many blocks, we had to make a second suckering pass to clean up shoots that grow along the trunk or on the cordon. This has delayed the next pass, the leafing and lateral removal. At this point in the season, we remove interior leaves and laterally growing shoots in order to expose the fruit to dappled sunlight and wind. Care must be taken not to overexpose the fruit and subject it to sunburn, but enough exposure is necessary for uniform ripening.

"In the next few weeks, we will begin the crop estimation. At lag phase, we will be counting and weighing clusters in all of our blocks. Lag phase is the period between the growth of berries and the ripening of berries, when there are very few changes in the size or chemistry of the grapes. At this time, the clusters are about half of their final weight, which makes it a great time to get an indication of the final weight of the crop.

"As usual, the growing season is predictably unpredictable. It keeps life interesting..."

From 5/21/09: "Ka-Bloom! The incredibly warm weather we had this past weekend had a very powerful impact on vine growth and bloom. Before the weekend, the Chardonnay had just started to bloom, and now we have full bloom in most Chardonnay blocks. Even Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are blooming, ranging from 5-75% depending on the site, clone, and other viticultural factors. I love the smell, it is very subtle, fruity and a little herbal, but not great if you have allergies! We started the season about 10 days behind average, and now we are close to catching up to an average year.

"The rain we had at the beginning of the month saturated the soil and allowed for nice, uniform and vigorous growth in most vineyards. The growth is right where we want to be at bloom time, with the canopy filling most of the trellis and the shoot length around 3 feet. The vines will start slowing their vegetative growth as they finish bloom, and start focusing on berry development. At this time, we will lightly stress the vine and provide minimal irrigation, so that the berries do not become too big. This first phase of berry growth is cellular division, which will determine the final amount of cells that will be in the berry. After veraison, we have cellular expansion, which will determine how big these cells will become. What we are trying to achieve is small berries (fewer cells) that are plump (fully expanded) as opposed to dehydrated or shriveled. To achieve this, we will stress the vines during the cellular division phase, and then provide them with plenty of water during the cellular expansion phase.

"As far as we can tell, there is a potential for a large crop. The clusters are long, with lots of flowers and big wings. Now is the most critical time of the year for determining how much fruit we will have. The weather during bloom will affect 'set,' or the percentage of flowers that will become berries. With good weather, warm and sunny, we will likely have a good set. The weather forecasters believe the next week to be warm and sunny, so we shall see!"

From 3/24/09: "The 2009 growing season has begun! Chardonnay is Merryvale's first variety each year to experience 'budbreak,' or the initiation of growth following winter dormancy. As of March 23, Chardonnay was at approximately 25% budbreak across the Carneros and Oak Knoll appellations of Napa Valley. Pinot Noir follows closely behind, and is currently at approximately 5% budbreak. Merlot and Syrah will not be significantly behind and their buds are already 'swelling,' but Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon can be as much as one month later than Chardonnay. Interestingly, Sauvignon Blanc has a very short growing season, since it is among the last of the varieties to experience budbreak, but one of the first to be harvested!

"Although we have had a lot of sunshine in Napa recently, the nights and mornings are still quite cold, and we are experiencing a later than average budbreak. Chardonnay normally reaches 50% budbreak by March 15, so we are about 10 days later than average. Of course, this can change as the season progresses depending on the weather.

"Early this winter, there was significant concern that we would not have enough rainfall. January was well below average. We experienced some intense storms in February and in the first part of March that have brought us closer to an average year and have filled our soil profile and most reservoirs. However, we are still about one-third below average rainfall, depending on which appellation within Napa Valley. This makes our water conservation and deficit irrigation programs for sustainability and quality very important, and we will also have to be conservative about yields.

"We have had periods of dry weather over the recent weeks, and growers are taking these opportunities to mow their winter cover crop. This will also help conserve water and prevent frost damage. Mowing and cultivation are the main activities in the vineyard now. The next main vineyard operation is 'suckering,' or the removal of unwanted growth on the vines such as shoots that grow on the trunk. This occurs approximately 6 weeks after budbreak. In years of low water availability, it may make sense to sucker early in order for the vines to focus on the remaining growth to get the desired vigor, especially in low vigor sites.

"What makes viticulture so interesting is that each season is different, and it is the viticulturist's challenge to respond to the dynamic forces of Mother Nature. It is fascinating how the impact of our weather on the growing season creates distinct flavor, structural and textural expressions in our wine. Let's hope for the best in 2009!"

From 1/30/09: "Winter is pruning time. This is one of the most important practices in the vineyard because it allows us to create the stage for vine balance for the entire season. If we do not prune, then there will be too many buds, or growing points, left on the vines. All the buds will start to grow in the springtime, and there will be so many growing points that they will compete with each other and not have the strength to ripen the fruit they produce. Additionally, there will be shoots and fruit all over the place. Pruning helps us to localize the fruit so that we can manage the vines for uniformity of ripeness and open the canopy near the fruit to allow for dappled light and wind, naturally reducing mold and mildew.

"Winter rains disperse certain fungal pathogens (including Eutypa), or diseases, that can enter into the wounds left from making pruning cuts. That is why we do a practice called pre-pruning, where we prune the vines early in the winter, but only prune them partially so that we remove the majority of the vegetation. This part of pruning does not require much skill but is more labor intensive since you have to pull last year's woody vegetation off the trellis. The fungal pathogen may enter the shoots that are remaining on the vines, but they will be pruned off the vine when the final pruning is done later in the season. This final pruning is quicker since you do not have to remove much wood, but it requires more thought to make the best pruning decision. As the season progresses, the amount of fungal pathogens that get dispersed are greatly reduced, so an alternative to pre-pruning is to prune later in the season. Additionally, at this time, more sap exudes from the vines, preventing the entering and establishing of the diseases.

"Since we have had so little rainfall this year, we have been able to prune with a lower risk of disease spread. The disadvantage of the low rainfall amounts is that we are in a serious drought. We have had approximately 60% less than the average rainfall for the winter season. Growers are concerned that their reservoirs are not filled and that the ground water will not be replenished for this growing season. This will likely lead to a lighter crop because the vines will not initiate growth on as many clusters and they will also tend to make smaller clusters with smaller berries. Additionally, growers will thin more fruit than in an average year because they will be concerned that they will not be able to irrigate a heavy crop. Of course, the season may change, and spring may bring us plentiful rains that can change the crop yield prediction. We have to look on the bright side, though, which is that a lower yielding vintage with small clusters and small berries can create excellent, concentrated wines. Also, the California wine industry has moved away from an excess of wine that occurred after the record-yielding 2005 vintage, and has moved into balance or even a shortage of grapes, with low yielding and high quality vintages in 2007 and 2008.

"Winter is pruning time. This is one of the most important practices in the vineyard because it allows us to create the stage for vine balance for the entire season. If we do not prune, then there will be too many buds, or growing points, left on the vines. All the buds will start to grow in the springtime, and there will be so many growing points that they will compete with each other and not have the strength to ripen the fruit they produce. Additionally, there will be shoots and fruit all over the place. Pruning helps us to localize the fruit so that we can manage the vines for uniformity of ripeness and open the canopy near the fruit to allow for dappled light and wind, naturally reducing mold and mildew.

"Winter rains disperse certain fungal pathogens (including Eutypa), or diseases, that can enter into the wounds left from making pruning cuts. That is why we do a practice called pre-pruning, where we prune the vines early in the winter, but only prune them partially so that we remove the majority of the vegetation. This part of pruning does not require much skill but is more labor intensive since you have to pull last year's woody vegetation off the trellis. The fungal pathogen may enter the shoots that are remaining on the vines, but they will be pruned off the vine when the final pruning is done later in the season. This final pruning is quicker since you do not have to remove much wood, but it requires more thought to make the best pruning decision. As the season progresses, the amount of fungal pathogens that get dispersed are greatly reduced, so an alternative to pre-pruning is to prune later in the season. Additionally, at this time, more sap exudes from the vines, preventing the entering and establishing of the diseases.

"Since we have had so little rainfall this year, we have been able to prune with a lower risk of disease spread. The disadvantage of the low rainfall amounts is that we are in a serious drought. We have had approximately 60% less than the average rainfall for the winter season. Growers are concerned that their reservoirs are not filled and that the ground water will not be replenished for this growing season. This will likely lead to a lighter crop because the vines will not initiate growth on as many clusters and they will also tend to make smaller clusters with smaller berries. Additionally, growers will thin more fruit than in an average year because they will be concerned that they will not be able to irrigate a heavy crop. Of course, the season may change, and spring may bring us plentiful rains that can change the crop yield prediction. We have to look on the bright side, though, which is that a lower yielding vintage with small clusters and small berries can create excellent, concentrated wines. Also, the California wine industry has moved away from an excess of wine that occurred after the record-yielding 2005 vintage, and has moved into balance or even a shortage of grapes, with low yielding and high quality vintages in 2007 and 2008.

"Eat, Drink, and Be Merry(vale)!"

The Quarterly Review of Wines Names Merryvale its Winery of the Year!

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Consistently awarded a place in QRW's Best of the Best, with Silhouette Chardonnay and the flagship Bordeaux blend Profile, Merryvale is also being recognized for its sustainability efforts and dedication to quality.

Read the full article by Richard Paul Hinkle here.

Join the Profile Club!!

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Join Merryvale's Profile Club today to receive current releases and stellar library selections. Two Club levels to choose from - plus a 'Red Wines Only' option for each! The Profile Club brings you Merryvale and Starmont wines at a great value - members receive a 30% discount on all scheduled club shipments. Shipments feature four bottles of wine delivered bi-monthly. Plus, you'll save 20% on all Merryvale wine purchases and enjoy club-member-only events as soon as you sign up! Click here for more information or call us toll-free at 877-887-7763. (Photo: Liz Mason - Profile Club Manager)

Merryvale Vineyards - News and Events

Merryvale is in the press! Check out these great articles...

From the Vineyard: 2009 Vintage

The Quarterly Review of Wines Names Merryvale its Winery of the Year!

Join the Profile Club!!