null

2017 Vintage Progress Report

The 2017 harvest is already underway in many of the world’s great wine regions, and here’s what we’ve learned so far:

Napa Valley: After four consecutive years of drought, an unusually wet winter ensured that groundwater resources were recharged at the onset of the growing season, leading to an even bud break in mid-March which was followed by light rains in early April that kept spring frost at bay. As days grew longer and warmer in May, vines sprung to life, causing vineyard workers to spend a great deal of time managing vine canopies for optimal grape development in June and July. Harvest started relatively early this year, with some California sparkling wine houses bringing in fruit as early as the first week of August. As of the time of writing, some varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc are starting to come in, while grapegrowers will begin harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon in the coming weeks. Despite growing labor shortages in California, growers remain optimistic about the harvest, and some critics have already named 2017 as the latest entry in a string of classic vintages in Napa Valley.

Europe: Many grape growers are scratching their heads as several European wine regions experience one of the earliest vintages on record.  In France, the trade association Inter Rhone reported that harvest began on August 21 in the Southern Rhone valley, the earliest start in several decades. Meanwhile in the Northern Rhone valley, picking is expected to start around September 4, a full two weeks earlier than usual. Despite this, Inter Rhone issued a statement declaring that 2017 is likely to be another high-quality vintage in the region, and that yields will not be excessive. Further south, Italy has experienced vintage unlike any other with a series of extreme weather events including a warm winter, late spring frosts, and a brutal summer heat wave. One winemaker in Maremma in the south of Tuscany stated that he picked his Cabernet Sauvignon 40 days earlier than usual, yet his grapes had already reached full phenolic ripeness. As such, early reports indicate that 2017 will be a vintage to avoid for investors.