El Dorado Harvest Continues, Producing Grapes for Award Winning Wines

For most grape varieties in El Dorado County, harvest is well on its way to completion.  The rain during the end of the third week of September presented growers with some concern, but most vineyard owners got ahead of the weather.

 
Thomas Coyne Winery, Livermore, is one happy beneficiary of the 2013 El Dorado County grape harvest.

Bob Scharpf of Quartz Hill Vineyard sent this report: 

Petit Syrah, courtesy Snooth.com

“As luck would have it, I managed to get the Petit Syrah in the day before the rain. The brix was 28, pH 3.4 and acid .7. Coyne Winery was delighted to get it at this stage. Except for some sunburn, the grapes came in better than expected at this early date.

 

“Some Merlot was still hanging at that time in September, but it survived the rain with no problems. The remainder of the Merlot was picked on Sept 25-- high sugar, high pH, and low acid. Good for a full bodied wine.”

The Quartz Hill Vineyard grapes from past harvests have found their way into an award-winning wine at Thomas Coyne Winery.  From the winery website:

“2007 Petite Sirah, El Dorado - $20.00 (Released - May 2013) Silver Medal - Orange County Fair

The grapes for this wine were grown by Bob and Margot Scharpf in the Sierra foothills of El Dorado County. After crush, the wine was fermented and aged in American oak barrels for eighteen months. The wine is full-bodied with blackberry and pepper, followed by a rich oak finish.”

A sneak peak at the new winery
for Thomas Coyne in Livermore 

Thomas Coyne Winery produces award winning Rhone Style and Merlot wines.   They have a loyal following, and next week they are moving to a new location, still in Livermore, but now they’ll be at 2405 Research Drive. 

 

 

Quartz Hill Vineyard is a member of the El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association.

Early Harvesting Update from El Dorado County- Placerville area

Bob and Margot Scharpf of Quartz Hill Vineyard, El Dorado County, write:

 

"As most everyone knows, the harvest is early this year. I believe it is only the second time in 30 years that I have picked Sauvignon Blanc in August.

 

I also grow Pinotage,and it was picked on Aug. 28.

 

We are now into Merlot, and by mid September we may be picking Petit Syrah. "

 

Max Vineyard grapes at harvest

Richard Stading, Winemaker at Auriga Wine Cellars, writes:

 

"From our Max Vineyard, we've already brought in our Viognier, and the numbers are good: 26 Brix, Ph 3.30, T.A. .7, I’ll probably use this as a blending agent for a future Syrah. 

 

Quality is high, though the crop load is less than last year.

 

Zin and Syrah will follow in my harvest calendar, then Barbera, and usually Sangiovese last."  

 

 

 

 

 

Both Quartz Hill Vineyard and Max Vineyard/Auriga are members of the El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association.

 

 

Harvest Report from Walker Vineyard, El Dorado County

Chardonnay just harvested
at Walker Vineyards

Walker Vineyard is a thirty-five year old, twenty-one acre vineyard in El Dorado County.  Ann Walker Johnson sends this report:

 

“We have harvested all of our Chardonnay (4 acres) with an approximate yield of 4 tons per acre. We are at 2100 feet elevation and the brix this year averaged about 26. The quality was great... we escaped sunburn! These are old vines (40 years) planted on their own root on a hillside where we enjoy the view of Pyramid Peak to one side and Mt. Diablo from the opposite side of the block.

“We do a night harvest for one of our customers. My dad and I hit the road in our Peterbilt after a night of picking and headed to Petaluma for the delivery. Something I'll always remember is my dad telling me parrot jokes to pass the time and keep me alert while driving!! Evidently he had a joke session with Fred Rouse of EID (he does our water probe reads) earlier in the week. Thanks Fred for the jokes.... nothing like contemplating a parrot going into a bar when you are making a delivery in the wee hours of the morning!

“Next to come off is our Merlot and the start of our Zinfandel. Shortly followed by some Barbera.”

 

 More about Walker Wineyard

Walker Vineyard is a thirty-five year old, twenty-one acre vineyard situated above the Cosumnes River Canyon at 2,100 feet elevation. Premium Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Merlot and Barbera are grown in well-drained granitic soils in the Oak Hill Agricultural District.  Many award winning wines are made from Walker Vineyard grapes.  The vineyard is a member of the El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association.

 

www.walkervineyard.com

The vineyard is located in El Dorado County at

6060 Oak Hill Road
Placerville CA 95667

Family Grape Growers Speak Out on What Family Enterprises Mean to Them: Part One

In a run-up to the important FamilyWinemaker’s tasting this next weekend in San Francisco, we asked El Dorado Wine Grape Growers Association members “What’s a family enterprise mean to you?”.  Some of the key words from the first replies:  family, work ethic, generations, vision, standing together, quality goals.

Here’s one detailed reply from Ann Walker Johnson of Walker Vineyards, which planted grapevines in 1968 on their one-hundred year old family farm situated above the Cosumnes River at 2100’ elevation.  Today they grow Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Barbera, Petite Sirah and Merlot on 21 acres in El Dorado’s Oak Hill Agricultural District.

Old Barn on the Ranch

“A family enterprise means uniting behind a shared vision and goal. Growing up on a ranch that has been in the family for over 100 years, we have a long standing tradition of working the land.

Zinfandel

“I watched my mom and dad begin their vineyard in the early 1970's and as a member of the family I was expected to contribute to the process. (As the youngest of four daughters, that initially meant carrying a water jug until I was old enough to graduate to disbudding vines and helping with portable irrigation pipe.) We all worked together to take care of the vines.

Ann Walker Johnson
at Harvest

"Now, some 40 years later I'm back on the ranch sharing that vision again. Why come back? For me it was an opportunity to really get to know my dad on a different level. I've learned a tremendous amount about viticulture from him ... but I have also shared many moments (sometimes humorous, sometimes not) from repairing the 6" pipeline to learning exactly which fittings you need to lubricate on the mower.



Sorting out grow tubes

“I also have my own family working with me. Is it my 16 year old daughter's first choice to be up at 6:00 AM the one day of week she could actually sleep in since high school is back in session? No! But, she does understand that a family pulls together when work needs to get done and I think imparting a sound work ethic is one of the best things we can do for our kids.



Son Josh and friend
smile after a long day
of planting vines

“So a family enterprise means just that... family. Working together through the good times and the stressful times and standing together behind a goal, which for us is to grow the highest quality wine grapes we can.”