Let the Good Times Roll in 2012!

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Start planning now to join us in 2012 for these great events!

Annual Love Fest Valentine's Day Dinner in the Cask Room
Saturday, February 11th, 2012, 7PM
$150 per person, Email your RSVP!

Summer Whites, Rose & Croquet at Meadowood
Saturday, July 21st, 2012, 4-10PM
$75 per person, Email your RSVP!

Annual Harvest Dinner in the Cask Room
Saturday, September 22nd, 2012, 7PM
$150 per person, Email your RSVP!

Profile Club Annual Harvest Party
Sunday, October 14th, 2012, 1-4PM
FREE for club members, Email your RSVP!

Annual Holiday Winemaker's Dinner in the Cask Room
Saturday, December 8th, 2012, 7PM
$150 per person, Email your RSVP!

Seasonal Barrel Tastings (quarterly):
Saturday, March 10th, 2012, 1-4PM
FREE for club members; $25 for guests, Email your RSVP!

Saturday, June 16th, 2012, 1-4PM
FREE for club members; $25 for guests, Email your RSVP!

Saturday, September 15th, 2012, 1-4PM
FREE for club members; $25 for guests, Email your RSVP!

Saturday, December 15th, 2012, 1-4PM
FREE for club members; $25 for guests, Email your RSVP!

For more details and answers to all your questions, give us a call at 877-887-7763.

From the Vineyard: Vintage 2011

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Viticulturist David Wilson keeps us up-to-date with what's happening in the vineyards...
Harvest ends!

"The 2011 harvest ended for Merryvale on Monday, October 31st this year, but we weren't yet officially done. We found a vineyard block of Riesling near our Starmont facility in Carneros that presented the opportunity to make a late harvest dessert wine. Our previous vintage of making a late-harvest Riesling was back in 2006, so it was exciting to bring the fruit in. A crew began harvesting the fruit at 10:00 PM, selecting only those clusters that were in the best stage of botrytis. As the botrytis infection progresses in fruit, the berries begin to dehydrate and concentrate. While most white grapes we harvest are in the 22-24 degrees brix range, this fruit was well over 30 brix. The crew harvested in near-freezing temperatures and when we received the bins at 6:00 AM the next morning the fruit temperature was only in the mid 40s. So, we were officially done on November 9th. We'll see how this project turns out but early indications are that it is a great vintage for late-harvest wines.

"The harvest this year has been categorized many ways, but everyone agrees it was one of the most challenging in the history of viticulture in the Napa Valley. As I mentioned in previous updates, late Spring and early Fall rain events created the need for intensive management in the vineyards to ensure high quality. With low crop yields almost across the board, it was especially difficult to make decisions in the field. Our efforts were rewarded as we were bringing in ripe and sound fruit through the end of the season. We were grateful that the weather warmed in the final two weeks of October and when coupled with low humidity we saw flavors and concentration come on line.

"Harvest usually proceeds in a rhythm, but in 2011 there were starts, stops, idle periods of days on end, and for the entire month of September we didn't bring in one bin of fruit to the Merryvale facility in St. Helena. We relied on every member of our production team to stay motivated and keep the phrase "this is a marathon, not a sprint," in mind. Overall, we're very pleased with our efforts in the fields and anticipate some outstanding wines this vintage."

From October 26th: "Harvest continues for both Merryvale and Starmont in this last week of October. We could be wrapping up in the vineyards by the weekend, but there is still a significant amount of fruit to be picked. This month has brought numerous challenges, but none more difficult than a weather system that hit Northern California on October 10th that brought misting rain and also left warm and humid conditions in its wake. While all of our Pinot Noir and the vast majority of Chardonnay had been harvested before the 10th, the remaining varietals have required mitigation measures to limit mold pressure and ensure ripening. These have included removing basal leaves from the fruit zone to improve airflow and sun exposure, sprays to prevent the progression of botrytis which can cause bunch rot, and thinning of any clusters that sustained damage from the moisture. With lower crop yields already anticipated, we have seen a further reduction in tonnage in the last few weeks. Whether it's Malbec on Atlas Peak, Cabernet Sauvignon in Conn Valley, or Petit Verdot in Calistoga, we are harvesting at approximately 30-40% lower than normal levels.

"On the positive side, early impressions of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines are that it could be an outstanding vintage for those varietals. Also, the Cabernet Sauvignon we've harvested from the Schlatter Family Estate has shown rich and concentrated fruit flavors even in this much cooler vintage.

"Next month's update will include a summary of the entire harvest and also a description of some of our post-harvest operations. We're excited to be on the home stretch!"

From September 23rd: "Harvest is under way! We began the 2011 harvest on September 7th with one lot each of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Musqué from Juliana Vineyards. With warmer weather for the first half of September, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon ripened quickly and we are now nearing completion of those two varietals. We have just started harvesting Pinot Noir at the Stanly Ranch Estate, and over the past two days a crew from Regusci Vineyard Management has been starting the picks here at 1:00 in the morning and finishing before daybreak. Harvesting in the early hours has many benefits, and has essentially become the standard in Napa. For the Stanly Ranch Estate we use mobile light towers, similar to those you would see on an overnight freeway construction project. The towers do an excellent job of creating a daytime environment, yet with the cool temperatures the crew and fruit remain safe from heat exposure. The bins of fruit are dropped by the tractor directly on to our crush pad which eliminates any lag time between harvesting and processing of the fruit.

"We anticipate beginning to harvest Chardonnay from earlier sites next week, and by the last week of this month we should be running full-bore at our Starmont facility. For the Merryvale facility in St. Helena, there are a few lots of Cabernet Sauvignon on the horizon, but still about ten days out from being ready.

"Warmer weather is set to return over the weekend, so we anticipate an acceleration of ripening and harvesting throughout the valley. We will be tracking all of our vineyards very closely by frequent maturity sampling and visits to each property with our winemakers.

"Thus begins the most exciting and rewarding time of the year in the Napa Valley, when the entire season's work comes to a finale and we complete the grape growing process by turning our beautiful fruit into delicious wines..."

From August 23rd: "For the first time this season, we are actually in a normal weather pattern in the Napa Valley. With the daytime temperatures ranging in the 70s to 80s in the cooler areas such as Carneros and the 80s to 90s upvalley, we are quickly progressing through veraison and seem to be catching up in general. Veraison is the stage of the season where the individual berries soften, the seeds harden, and the skins begin to change color. It is the onset of ripening.

"One of the main goals in the vineyard is to have each block ripen uniformly. Veraison creates an opportunity to adjust the crop load by thinning out any clusters that are developing much slower than the majority of the crop. This is essentially a fine tuning of the crop load, and it requires careful work by skilled crews. In Cabernet Sauvignon especially, it is critical to set up the crop to ripen thoroughly and uniformly. We also remove the "Second" crop at this time, which is made up of small clusters that form on lateral shoots rather than on the primary canes; removing it helps focus the vines' energy on ripening the primary clusters.

"Irrigation management has become a daily task, and we are constantly assessing water status through visual indicators in each block, pressure chamber readings, soil moisture sensors, and the weather forecasts. We began the season with such ample soil moisture, that we have just irrigated our Stanly Ranch Estate this week for the first time this season.

"As we edge closer to harvest, we anticipate beginning maturity sampling as early as next week. With a lighter crop, it is expected that Sauvignon Blanc could ripen quickly. In a typical season, we would already be harvesting some of the earliest Sauvignon Blanc sites, but it appears we won't begin until a few days after the Labor Day Weekend. The weather in the next few weeks will determine the exact timing.

"The next update from the vineyards should include the beginning of harvest, so stay tuned!"

From July 22nd: "The 2011 growing season is progressing through the Summer months, and we're beginning to assess the crop level in all varietals. Before June concluded, we had one last Pacific storm that brought close to an inch of rain valley-wide. This recharged the soil profile with moisture, and when coupled with about ten days of 90 degree plus temperatures during the first part of July, resulted in a dramatic increase in vine vigor. This unfortunately also limited the fruit-set in most varieties, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. During bloom and fruit-set we hope to avoid "shatter" where the flower fails to pollinate and falls from the rachis, which is the structure that supports each grape cluster. If you were to take part in any vineyard-related meeting this week in the North Coast, shatter would likely be one of the main topics for discussion.

"At this point in the season we are faced with a heavy workload; completing the canopy work, hedging the vines either manually or mechanically, finishing any mowing or cultivation, and applying the final mildew-preventative sprays. We also have submitted our bloom-time plant tissue samples to labs to check the nutrient status, and are applying any nutrients needed either by including them in an irrigation or using a sprayer for a foliar application to the vines. There aren't many signs of nutrient deficiencies this year, as the vines have produced lush, green foliage and growth is just beginning to slow down. There may be a slight lull in the work in about two weeks time, however we aren't very far off of crop thinning (although it seems there will be a minimal need for removal of crop this year.)

"How the season to date will affect the timing of harvest is anyone's guess, and for now everyone's focus in the vineyards is just staying caught up."

From June 27th: "I must begin this vineyard update with another mention of the weather. We entered one of the most critical and weather-sensitive phases of the growing season at the end of May and beginning of June, and saw record low temperatures and rainfall amounts (plus hail) for that time period in the Napa Valley. The true impact of the erratic weather during bloom will not be known for several more weeks, but early indications are that it lightened the crop in varieties such as Petit Verdot valley-wide. While June began with a gloomy outlook and plenty of catch-phrases in the local media ("Junuary" is one,) we have entered a seasonal pattern in the last ten days and everyone couldn't be more relieved.

"After a slow start to bloom, it finished quickly and we are now racing through fruit-set, the process where the flower is self-fertilized and the individual berries form on the clusters. Vine health is looking excellent, and with ample moisture in the soil we won't have any need to irrigate for weeks to come. In fact, we are also delaying the second mowing pass of the cover crops in order to help dry out the soil and put a light amount of pressure on the vines to progress into the next phase.

"One of the most important cultural practices during the season (if not the most,) is just getting under-way, which is the Summer canopy management. This involves straightening of the main shoots and tucking them into the trellis, and removal of lateral canopy growth and basal leaves from within the fruit zone. This allows for a sufficient amount of air movement and sun exposure to aid in the development of the crop. It actually also impacts the following year's crop, as the buds that will become next year's canes and clusters are being formed and require adequate sun exposure as well. The proper balance of canopy is crucial from site to site and variety to variety. It is a detailed process that can set the tone for the rest of the season. Again, timing is critical, as we need proper acclimation of the newly formed berries but also need some protection from intense sun exposure during heat waves that may come in the next few months.

"The next month will be incredibly busy in the vineyards, but everyone seems eager to kick into the next gear given our slow start..."

From May 25th: "May has been an incredibly busy month in the vineyards, mainly due to the surge of growth in the vines once the weather cleared and the soil warmed up. In most properties, multiple operations are all occurring at the same time. From suckering, to mowing of the cover crop, to disease and pest control programs getting underway. With the accelerated growth, we have caught up after having a very cool and wet start to the season. Long-term indications for the season show that ocean surface temps off the Northern California coast are once again cooler than normal, similar to the last few years. This could result in another cooler than normal vintage in the Napa Valley.

"We are approaching bloom in the earlier sites and varieties, including our Stanly Ranch Estate. Grape flowers are "perfect" flowers, meaning they self-pollinate. During the critical bloom stage of the season, we hope for mild and dry weather with calm winds. Any rainfall, erratic temperatures, or high winds can affect the pollination of each flower and limit the fruit set which in turn will limit the crop yield at harvest. During this time, in order to help with uniformity of bloom and fruit set, we apply macro and micronutrients such as Phosphorus, Potassium, Boron, Zinc, and Molybdenum through foliar sprays. One material that is widely applied during this period is kelp or seaweed extract, which contains trace amounts of each of these nutrients.

"With the return to some cooler weather this week, and a sufficient amount of moisture in the soils from our spring rainfall, we will likely not need to begin irrigating until the second half of June or early July. Growth looks great, and the activity in the vineyard will be continuing in the weeks to come with shoot tucking and moving of the trellis wires to ensure proper orientation of each shoot and to avoid any wind damage. Now it's just a matter of staying caught up on the work!"

From April 25th: "The month of April has been an interesting one in the vineyards. With budbreak already running later than normal, the cool weather has resulted in slow emergence of the new shoots in many locations. This past month has essentially been a lull as pruning was completed, but there hasn't been enough shoot growth to begin the thinning of the shoots, also known as suckering. Aside from a few nights of frost protection when the temperatures dropped into the low thirties and some mowing of the cover crops, it has remained quiet in our Estate blocks. We look to be catching up somewhat at our Stanly Ranch Estate, however in Conn Valley we are seeing very slow emergence in some of our Cabernet blocks. We plan to begin suckering our Viognier and less vigorous Chardonnay blocks at Stanly after the Easter weekend, while we are probably 7-10 days out from beginning to shoot thin at the Conn Valley Estate.

"Suckering is one of the most critical operations of the season, in that it directs the stored energy of the vine to the fruitful shoots. The excess vegetative shoots will be thinned by hand, leaving the vine to focus growth where it is needed. Timing of the shoot thinning is essential, and in the case of a higher rainfall Winter and Spring such as we've had this year, we actually delay the suckering to moderate the vigor of the vine. The goal is to have balanced growth to fill the vine trellis and prepare the vines for a uniform bloom and fruit set later in Spring.

"Given the slow growth of the new shoots, we are closely monitoring for any insect pressures which may damage the new leaves or flowering structures, which are also called the inflorescences. If needed, we will rely on softer chemistry materials such as stylet oil to reduce those early populations.

"As we look forward to May, it's time to gear up as this lull will be coming to an end and the workload will ramp up dramatically."

From March 23rd: "Even though the Spring season technically began at 4:21 PM in the Napa Valley this past Sunday, we seem to still have some Winter to get through in the vineyards. Pruning in all vineyards was completed as the weather allowed, and we are beginning to see budbreak in the earlier sites and varieties. Budbreak is running a few days behind average, but with the entire soil profile saturated, once the soil is warmed up by the Spring sunshine the vines will have no problem catching up.

"As this year's shoots emerge from each bud, the threat of frost damage becomes a reality. Depending on temperatures, wind speed, and dew points, frost pressure can fluctuate from one night to the next. At our Stanly Ranch Estate, our newly installed weather station will send a text message to five different cell phones once the temperature reaches 35.9 degrees. At that point, depending on all of the weather factors and how the temperature is trending, we make a decision whether to turn on our wind machines or not. Wind machines essentially mix the warmer air that is aloft with the cold air that is settled along the ground, also known as the temperature inversion, and provide good protection in areas such as Carneros. Other measures to limit frost pressure include managing the vineyard floor to allow for drainage of colder air. Early mowing and under-vine cover crop management are important practices in frost-prone areas at this time of year.

"As we move in to April, we will need to begin our disease prevention programs, beginning with applications of sulfur and copper to control any overwintering fungal pathogens. Will keep you posted!"

From February 23rd: "After a very dry month of January, February has brought a dramatic return to Winter. While vineyard managers and viticulturists began to feel a bit uneasy about last month's warm and dry conditions and the potential for early budbreak, there has been a collective sigh of relief as we have had significant rainfall, frosty mornings, and even some snowfall on local ridges and peaks in the past two weeks. In fact, this coming weekend could bring snow to the lowest elevations in Napa County in 25 plus years.

"In the fields, the colder weather has lessened the urgency to complete pruning. At our Stanly Ranch Estate in Carneros, pruning will begin next week. It is an important operation as it sets the foundation for uniformity during the growing season. Proper spacing of spurs and maintaining the proper number of buds per shoot are starting points for achieving balanced vegetative growth and crop production. We are also hosting an event for the Napa Valley Grapegrowers this week at our Starmont Winery, which will provide education for Vineyard Managers and Field Workers on viticultural practices, economic challenges in farming, and many other topics. We are looking forward to hosting approximately 150 attendees.

"We continue to develop farm plans for each property for 2011 and are always looking for ways to fine-tune our Estate blocks to maximize quality. This includes nutritional programs, cover crop programs, and various cultural operations such as canopy and crop load management.

"By the next update we should have some budbreak to report in our earlier sites and varietals."

From January 26th: "The New Year has brought drier weather and a busy start to 2011. After 23 days of recorded rainfall in Napa County for December, January has brought only a few days of light rain. Weed control, pre-pruning, and pruning are taking place in vineyards throughout the Napa Valley. At our Stanly Ranch Estate this month, we utilized a low-compaction rubber-tracked tractor to mechanically pre-prune the vines in order to allow for delayed manual pruning. Pruning later in the season limits disease pressure from wood pathogens such as Eutypa and Bot Canker which can easily infect the pruning wounds on vines during wet weather. Other Winter projects in Carneros include the installation of Barn Owl boxes for integrated rodent control in the vineyards and also an advanced weather station to monitor conditions at the property at all times.

"At our St. Helena Estate vineyard, we will begin to manually prune the vines within the next week. We use the Guyot method of cane pruning there, which requires meticulous care on where each pruning cut needs to be made. We are also preparing a small portion of the acreage to be grafted to several different Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc clonal selections to enhance the diversity of fruit grown at the property. The existing vines will be cut back to the 'head' of the vine now, and once we are ready to graft this Spring a new bud will be inserted into a cut or 'chip' on either side of each vine and then wrapped tightly with budding tape to hold the graft in place, creating a union between the scion and rootstock. The grafted vines will produce their first crop in 2012.

"We're still 6-8 weeks from budbreak, but there is plenty of preparation required now for the upcoming Spring season. Frost control, pest and disease control, and management of the vineyard floor will all be needed before we know it. We're looking forward to beginning the 2011 vintage!"

From December 21st: "After an exhausting finish to the 2010 harvest, everyone has been able to rest, catch up with colleagues and friends at the various harvest dinners and parties throughout the valley, and begin planning for 2011. Early winter practices in the vineyard include cover cropping, applying compost, weed control, and erosion control. We are tasting and discussing the 2010 wines at Merryvale and incorporating our winemakers' input into next year's farming plans. It is also the time of year for Expos, Workshops, and Seminars covering the most current topics in Viticulture and advances in farming equipment. "We have had a solid start to the rainy season with a consistent string of cold storms, mixed with a few warm sunny days which has resulted in strong cover crop growth. Vines are now dormant, with freezing morning temps over the last two weeks that caused leaves to finally drop. We've "winterized" our estate properties, and aside from harvesting our olive trees at the Schlatter Family Estate last month, it has been relatively quiet in the vineyards. "Activity will pick up in January as we 'pre-prune' the Stanly Ranch Estate, which allows for the primary pruning pass to be delayed later into Winter in order to limit disease and frost pressure."

Merryvale Vineyards - News and Events

Special Wine Offers for February...

Come to Merryvale during the month of February...

Let the Good Times Roll in 2012!

From the Vineyard: Vintage 2011