We may have just entered September but a picture of the how the 2011 wine grape harvest will shape up is emerging. A the moment it looks like small quantity but high quality. The intense heat of the summer was the key factor and also forced some farmers to harvest earlier than usual. I corresponded with growers last week and an optimistic picture emerged.
On the harvest date: Virtually all the grapes are in across the east and central parts of the state. Amanda Koraska at Flat Creek Estate in the Hill Country says, “The 2011 grape harvest was much earlier than years past. The white wine varietals for vintage 2011 were harvested about two weeks earlier than past vintages while the red varietals were harvested almost six weeks earlier. Our harvest was fully completed by mid-July.” In the High Plains, where the harvest usually takes place latest in the state consultant Bobby Cox reports that the harvest is 80% complete, whereas normally they are just getting started.
On quality: Marnelle Durrett, winemaker at Kiepersol Estates reports: “Phenomenal! Best fruit we have ever harvested!” Phillip Anderson, General Manager at Cap Rock Winery, doesn’t grow grapes but reports on the grapes his independent growers delivered. “The quality of fruit is really nice,” Anderson said. “The heat gave us nice ripeness and obviously we didn’t have any moisture related problems. The berry size was much smaller than usual.” Veteran industry consultant Bobby Cox reports on some of the as-yet unharvested grapes “Finally the weather broke,” Cox said. “We have Montpulciano, Aglianico, and two vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon still hanging in 80-something highs and 50-something lows. That dog should hunt!”
Jump for the full report.
On the problems: Heat was the most cited problem and Les Constable at Brushy Creek Vineyards reports a byproduct of it: “Critters needed moisture and food at a time that the creek was dry and food scarce,” Constable said. “Very difficult keeping coons, deer, birds etc out of the vineyard this year. Lost a lot too them.” And Amanda Koraska pointed out future issues. “We predict the prolonged drought to have a negative effect on the 2012 harvest,” Koraska said.
Which grapes will do best?
Kiepersol Estates: “We are excited about all 14 of our varieties! There is a fantastic intensity of varietal characteristics.”
Flat Creek Estate: Syrah, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Muscat Canelli
Cap Rock Winery: “The grapes seem to be of uniformly high quality. If I had to pick something as standing out, I would say that reds have a chance to be special this year.”
Brushy Creek Vineyards: Tempranillo and other Spanish grapes.
It looks like 2011 wines could exceed 2010 in quality. Expect the white wines to start shipping this fall and the aged reds a year from now.
