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Early word on the 2014 harvest in Napa Valley? ‘Early’ and ‘excellent’

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Despite a drought and a 6.0 earthquake, the 2014 Napa Valley wine grape harvest is going to be “another early and excellent quality year.” That’s the word from the Napa Valley Vintners, a nonprofit trade group of some 500 wineries.

According to their data, the 2014 harvest in Napa Valley began with picking for grapes for sparkling wine on July 30, with some wineries specializing in aromatic whites such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, picking in early August. That’s a bit earlier than average, but not the earliest reported in recent years. According to the vintners’ group, back in 1997, sparkling wine grapes began being harvested July 23.

Yields for this harvest vary, depending on the grape varietal and where in the Napa Valley the grapes were grown, but in general, growers are reporting greater than average quantities. That makes 2014 the third abundant harvest in a row.

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With the 2013/2014 winter on record as the driest ever in California and rainfall in Napa Valley half the average, everyone is wondering how that affected this year’s harvest.

“Heavy rains in late February and early March gave a much-needed drink of water to the vines as they were emerging from dormancy and about to begin bud break,” the vintners reported. “Furthermore, the spring was warm allowing vintners and growers to save water if needed for irrigation rather than using it for frost protection.

“And finally, while the vines used for high-quality wine production generally don’t need much water, a benefit of the drought is that berry sizes are typically smaller and have more concentrated flavors, which many winemakers believe contributed to the overall quality of this year’s harvest.”

Photos and more details about the 2014 harvest season can be found on the Napa Valley Vintners website.

Follow @sirenevirbila for more on food and wine.

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