Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/100792
wineries worked to create enough space for everything. Conditions were similar in the warmer parts of Sonoma County, and most producers there were also pleased with the harvest. In the Central Coast, northern Monterey County had a relatively cool season, and degree-day accumulation was lower than normal in the north part of the Salinas Valley. Following a relatively dry winter and some rain in the spring, the crops were clean and a little larger and later than normal. Many growers and wineries picked according to pH and acidity levels as much as sugar points. Some varieties were very tart even as the sugar came into range. More hang time and irrigation fixed problems in most instances. Moving down valley into southern Monterey County and the Paso Robles area, conditions were drier, but thankfully, less frosty than Napa Valley���s crop was a bit larger than normal in 2012, and a few notches higher than 2011���s in terms of quality. Photos: Jason Tinacci/Napa Valley Vintners last year. Crop sizes were closer to normal. The big story was the heat that seemed endless in August and into autumn, with temperatures into the high 90s and low 100s day after day. Raisining, early vine defoliation and other signs of stress were common. The heat even extended into cooler coastal areas to the south, and in Santa Barbara County, stress was noted in many pinot noir vineyards. When the fruit was picked and sorted, it turned out to be a good-sized crop in most areas, and the wines are starting out quite well. In the Sierra Foothills, growers experienced one of the cleanest harvests in a few years. Yields were better than average, and the demand for grapes was strong. It did get warm, and some vineyards lost leaves and had some raisining occur. For the most part, zinfandel vines had large clusters and fruit was clean. The region���s winemakers are very happy with the quality of the 2012 vintage and are eager to show that they can compete with any region in the state. Especially promising are Mediterranean varieties such as syrah, barbera, vermentino and grenache blanc. 50 V I N E YARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT | Jan - Feb 2013 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m