​Welcome to Trellis Talks, a new mini-series from Grown in Napa Valley, where we dive into the technical side of vineyard management in bite-sized episodes. In this installment, host Caleb Mosley sits down with Thibaut Scholasch of Fruition Sciences to explore the science of vineyard water management. From irrigation timing to the long-term impact of early-season decisions, they discuss how to optimize vine resilience and ripening in an unpredictable climate. Whether you're a grower, winemaker, or vineyard enthusiast, this quick but insightful conversation will help you rethink how water shapes the future of Napa Valley wines.

As the 2024 harvest progresses, Napa Valley is witnessing a season marked by an early start, impressive grape quality, optimal weather conditions, and high labor availability. Despite these positives, growers are navigating significant challenges due to shifting market dynamics and economic pressures.

Exceptional Wine Quality 
Across Napa Valley, grape quality is turning out to be one of the highlights of the 2024 harvest. Growers are reporting excellent phenolic ripeness and balanced sugar levels, leading to ideal chemistry heading into the winery. The mild summer, punctuated by a brief but impactful Labor Day heat wave, accelerated the accumulation of sugars while allowing acids to develop steadily. As Matt Stornetta of Stornetta Made Farming explains, “the cooler weather is already helping the balance of sugars and acids.”

The result is fruit that promises to produce complex, flavorful wines, which has already been reported as early fermentations yield their results. Many growers are optimistic that this year’s vintage will deliver standout wines, characterized by full flavor profiles and well-balanced structure. 

Weather Conditions Support Healthy Vineyard Development
Weather has been a key factor in this year’s successful harvest. Unlike recent years marred by extreme heat or wildfires, 2024 has provided growers with near-ideal conditions for grape maturation. According to Chris D'Alo of Nord Vineyard Services, this season’s climate reminds him of 2018, another highly favorable vintage.  Steady winter rainfall provided deep soil moisture and set the stage for strong canopies, resulting in yields well balanced with vegetative growth.  July heat arrived while canopies still had access to adequate soil moisture, with most growers noting the cessation of shoot growth, along with a celebrated early end of their powdery mildew control programs.

The persistent (and often reliable) heat over Labor Day did pose challenges for some vineyards, particularly in areas with shallower soil or with limited irrigation capacity. However, these effects have been isolated, and the majority of vineyards have bounced back, with D'Alo remaining optimistic: “The fruit flavor is excellent, and I do believe this vintage will produce some amazing wines.”

Increased Labor Availability Eases Harvest Challenges
A positive development this harvest season has been the increased availability of farmworkers, a significant change from the shortages experienced in recent years. Thanks to cooler weather, the pace of harvest has been moderate and steady, contributing to a smooth and efficient harvest. D'Alo notes that there are many eager workers available, which may shift needs away from H2-A supplemental crews come the 2025 harvest season. Navigating the complexities of an early harvest without the additional strain of labor shortages has allowed growers to meet the harvest requests of their winery partners, adding to the positive outlook for wine quality in 2024.  

Market Struggles Pose Challenges for Growers
While the quality of the 2024 harvest is undeniable, the economic landscape remains challenging for many. The spot market for grapes has been difficult, with prices often failing to meet production costs. Stornetta notes that many conversations with winery partners have not resulted in deals, as unsold fruit remains an issue.

As wineries pull back on production due to the evolving state of wine sales , the supply of grapes  has outpaced demand, causing strain for growers statewide. D'Alo echoes this concern, noting that while this vintage will likely produce exceptional wines, fewer cases will be produced due to the current market conditions.

Looking Ahead: Quality Amidst Market Challenges
The 2024 harvest presents a complex picture: while the weather has provided nearly perfect conditions for grape development, and labor availability is at an all-time high, the economic struggles facing the industry cannot be ignored. Despite these market challenges, the promise of exceptional wines coupled with Napa Valley’s hard-earned pedigree of distinct wines recognized on the global stage provide an outlook marked by resilience and the ability to adapt. Napa Valley’s growers remain committed to producing world-class wines, and this year’s fruit holds the potential to create wines that will stand out in any collection.

On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, an adult male Oriental Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) was detected in a pest detection trap in Sonoma County, just outside the town of Sonoma. The trap, located in a fruit tree on a residential property near 8th Street East and Old Winery Road, caught the attention of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and local county agricultural departments. While the discovery of a single fly does not immediately trigger a quarantine, it does call for increased fruit fly trapping and monitoring, which in this case, extends into parts of Napa County.

In response to this finding, Sonoma County Ag, Napa County Ag, and CDFA are collaborating to place additional delimitation traps around the core area of the detection. Over the next week, 425-450 traps will be deployed within a 4.5-mile radius, covering parts of southwest Napa County, including areas around Redwood Road, Partrick Road, Mt. Veeder Road, and the western section of Carneros. CDFA staff began placing traps on August 9 and 10, primarily in residential and roadside host trees, with the goal of ensuring no further adult flies are found, thereby avoiding a quarantine. So far, CDFA has successfully treated the initial find site and adjacent properties in Sonoma County.

As of today, all delimitation traps have been successfully deployed around the find site, encompassing the core area (1 square mile), the first buffer zone (9 square miles), and the outer buffer zones (16-32 square miles). These traps have been checked and serviced multiple times. Initially, daily checks were conducted during the first week. With no additional findings, the frequency of servicing has been reduced to weekly, starting August 19. Currently, 222 traps are set in Sonoma County and 62 in Napa County. CDFA staff will continue their trapping activities throughout the delimitation process.

It’s important to note that last year saw an unprecedented number of exotic fruit fly detections and active quarantines in California. Fortunately, all seven fruit fly quarantines last season, including those in nearby counties like Sacramento, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara, successfully eradicated the pest populations, allowing the quarantines to be lifted. This serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing pest exclusion and detection efforts to protect our agricultural communities.

Growers within the delimitation area in Napa have been notified, but it’s important to stress that there is currently no quarantine in place, so vineyard and winery operations can proceed as usual. We remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding our agricultural lands from invasive species and ensuring that Napa’s renowned wine industry remains unaffected by these potential threats. Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor the situation closely.

​As the 2024 harvest season kicks off in Napa Valley, the anticipation is palpable. For our members and the broader community, we are pleased to share a comprehensive set of resources designed to support a successful and safe harvest. These tools, crafted by experts, offer insights, best practices, and vital safety information to ensure the season runs smoothly.

​1. Harvest Predictions Podcast In our latest episode of the Grown in Napa Valley podcast, we delve into the much-anticipated predictions for the 2024 vintage. This year’s discussion features local experts who reflect on the unique growing conditions, analyze the potential quality of the grapes, and estimate the timing and yield of the harvest. 

​​2. Harvest Best Practices Video For growers and workers alike, our Harvest Best Practices video is an invaluable resource. This video provides an overview of the most effective techniques to ensure quality and efficiency during harvest.

3. Harvest Procedures Paper Accompanying our video, the Harvest Best Practices Paper offers detailed guidelines in both English and Spanish. This comprehensive document includes step-by-step instructions and recommendations for managing the harvest, from pre-harvest preparations to post-harvest storage.

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4. Harvest Night Safety Paper Safety is always a top priority, particularly during the demanding harvest season when much of the work happens at night. Our Harvest Night Safety Paper, available in both English and Spanish, outlines crucial safety measures for night work. 

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​5. Napa Valley Vintners Press Release on the Start of the 2024 Harvest We’re thrilled to share the recent press release from the Napa Valley Vintners, announcing the official start of the 2024 harvest. View their Vintage Tracker website for more updates.

​At Napa Valley Grapegrowers, we are committed to supporting our community through every stage of the growing season. These resources are part of our ongoing effort to ensure that the 2024 harvest is not only fruitful but also safe and sustainable for everyone involved. As you embark on this year’s harvest, we encourage you to utilize these tools and stay connected with us for ongoing updates and support.
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Here’s to a successful harvest season!

The nation’s most prestigious wine grape grower organization, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVGG), gathered in early November for their two day annual conference, Rootstock. Breaking with the tradition of covering many topics at Rootstock, this year the group featured just one subject–weed control.

​The topic has stirred controversy in recent years.

A week later, Napa Green, the county’s prominent sustainability program, announced it would require its members to phase out conventional herbicides, including Roundup, by 2026, offering growers technical and financial assistance to support the change  The program has 25 current members and 44 others who are in transition. Together they collectively farm 7,000 acres of vines.

The growers’ educational gathering was held amidst growing consumer concerns that glyphosate based herbicides, featured in front page news (in recent court cases and ongoing studies), inhibit soil health and affect human health. In Napa, some consumers then began asking vintners if they used the herbicide, which put the topic on some wineries’ radar.

“The Napa Valley Grapegrowers have never shied away from a difficult topic or an interesting topic for discussion within the industry,” said NVGG board member Dave Whitmer, the county’s former Ag Commissioner. 
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As the NVGG said in describing its Nov. 6-7 event on its website, “as consumers' and lenders' perceptions around herbicides shift, there is mounting pressure across the wine production chain to adapt farming methods…. as Napa Valley growers continue to strive for viticultural excellence, employing innovative practices is paramount to continuing to increase quality and sustainability in our vineyards.”

12/4/2023 - Saint Helena, CA - Coming off the heels of the longest Napa Valley growing season in a decade, vintners are glowing with expectancy of the truly noteworthy 2023 vintage. Some have proposed it to be one of the greats while others claim it might be the vintage of a lifetime.

“Every century, every place has its legendary vintages. I have no doubt that 2023 will go down as one of the most phenomenal vintages ever in Napa Valley. Every vintner I’ve talked to about 2023 has been nothing short of ecstatic,” said Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible and Napa Valley resident in a recent video about the 2023 harvest.

Winemakers describe the wines as having freshness, purity and elegance overall with deep colored red wines and a full range of flavors from sites across the valley.

Higher-than-average rainfall kicked off the 2023 growing season, and grape growers reported full soil profiles with plenty of moisture, which led to a successful bloom. Due to cooler spring weather, the growing season began 10-14 days behind the 2022 season.

“The remainder of the growing season was a mild one. Cooler growing conditions meant extended hang time for grapes,” said Brittany Pederson, director of viticulture for Renteria Vineyard Management. “Knowing we’d likely harvest into November, it was our job to ripen the fruit and keep it protected long enough to hang through the extended time frame.”

Relatively cool weather in tandem with an abundance of sunshine allowed grape skins to ripen slowly and develop maximal dark red color components for red wines.  With 2023’s long growing season, full ripeness of grape skins and seeds provided the building blocks for the red wines’ tannic backbone.

“Ripe, rich tannins are the wine’s source of resilience and provide the elements for a long-lived wine.  The deep red color is a signal of a stand-out vintage, especially with Cabernet,” said Jim Duane, Winemaker at Seavey Vineyard.

Aside from Sauvignon Blanc, which was harvested as early as Labor Day weekend, most varieties ripened in October. This simultaneous ripening meant grape growers and wineries coordinated picks based on tank space in the cellar, and communication among partnerships was key. As always, everyone remained nimble, taking the challenges in stride.
“Every harvest we ‘add to our belts’, so to speak, as each one delivers a new experience and learning lesson. 2023 was no exception,” said Pederson.

With consistent, mild weather throughout the season, above-average crop yields, and extended hang time, grape growers and winemakers are reporting an exceptional, high-quality, memorable vintage in 2023.

A mild growing season has the Napa Valley agricultural community excited about the 2023 vintage: 

• Winter and spring rains led to full reservoirs and healthy, saturated soils, ideal conditions as grape growers headed into bud break
• The mild, warm summer weather (72-75 degrees F) supported healthy canopy growth through bloom and set
• Though vineyards faced mildew pressure, clusters remained loose for good air flow, berries were small with concentrated flavors and the weather remained consistent
• Harvest kicked off around Labor Day weekend (September 2-4, 2023) for white wine grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon harvest started the end of September / early-October; all picks wrapped up by mid-November
• Grape growers and winemakers relished the long harvest season, which provided varieties extended hang time to develop flavors true to their unique locations

LEARN MORE ABOUT NAPA VALLEY’S HARVEST

• Photos and stories on social media
  • Instagram: @napa_valley_grapegrowers, @NapaVintners
  • Facebook: @napavalleygrapegrowers, @NapaVintners
• Regular updates about the growing season
• Year-round vintage updates from winemakers at harvestnapa.com

​SOMM TV 2023 NAPA VALLEY VINTAGE REPORT
Watch the 2023 Napa Valley Vintage Report with winemakers as they get together to recap the harvest season and talk about the 2023 vintage. Airs Tuesday, December 5, 2023 on SOMM TV.
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2023 HARVEST PRESS CONFERENCE: A recap of the season
Industry insiders joined together to discuss the 2023 growing season, timely topics related to Napa Valley agriculture and harvest. View the 2023 vintage recap on the Napa Valley Grapegrowers YouTube page.

by Kerana Todorov for Wine Business

Napa Valley’s growing winegrape season was late, with the fruit remaining on the vine for an additional two to three weeks longer than in previous years.

Growers gathered Wednesday for the online Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ 2023 harvest press conference also reported higher yields, fruit with little shatter and no late-season dehydration commonly see in warmer seasons.

The integrity of the berries’ skin was “just so fantastic” through harvest, said Justin Leigon, partner at Piña Vineyard Management. Weight was retained, along with acidity, he said. 
“It was really a fantastic vintage,” said Leigon, whose company farms about 1,000 vineyard acres, mostly in the Napa Valley.

Overall, yields were 15 to 20 percent higher than average, he said.

On October 15, Justin Leigon, NVG Board Member and Partner at Piña Vineyard Management, talked about this year's harvest with KTVU. Click the video to view the full segment. 

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers announces ROOTSTOCK 2023, to be held on November 6 and 7 at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. This year’s event will focus on a central theme: weed management in the vineyard.
 
Though weed management in the vineyard is an integral part of the vineyard management system, there is mounting pressure to adapt farming methods to navigate public perceptions. And, as Napa Valley growers continue to strive for viticultural excellence, employing innovative best practices is paramount to increasing quality and sustainability in our vineyards.
 
ROOTSTOCK 2023 is open to the public, and the Napa Valley Grapegrowers hopes the focused format will inspire discussions in an open and collaborative manner. This year’s highlights include:

• Understanding the public’s perspective on herbicides with, “Children of the Vine” director, Brian Lilla
• Review of Napa County herbicide trends with Sarah Ferguson, CEO and co-founder of Ruetd
• The history of herbicide use in vineyards and agriculture with Dr. Scott Steinmaus, PhD, head of plant sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• A wine business case study with Ivo Jeramaz, winemaker and vice president of vineyards and production, Grgich Hills Estate
• Continuing Education Seminars (1 professional development and 2 integrated pest management CEU credits)
  • Napa County regulatory review of pesticides with the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
  • Sustainable pest management – a roadmap for California with Nan Singhasemanon, assistant director, Department of Pesticide Regulation
  • Integrated weed management – identification, control, and innovative alternatives with John Roncoroni, weed science farm advisor, Emeritus, UC Cooperative Extension

 
Who should attend: Viticulturists, vineyard managers, winemakers, enologists, vineyard and winery owners, students, and community members interested in learning more about weed management in the vineyard.
 
Single-day and two-day ROOTSTOCK tickets can be purchased online on the Napa Valley Grapegrowers website.
 
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers hosted its first symposium and exhibition, the Napa Valley Viticultural Fair, in 1990. Now, over three decades later, ROOTSTOCK has evolved beyond a tradeshow format, yet carries on the tradition of delivering top quality education and resources to the wine industry. 

​With the 2023 growing season well underway, Napa growers are studying the vintage characteristics to date to help track trends. Below are a few highlights so far: 

1. Late bud-break with wet winter 
2. 20+ inches of rain Jan-Mar, 10+ inches of snow in February
3. Phenology is roughly 2-3 weeks behind previous recent vintages
4. Fruit set is underway and looks good so far
5. Cluster counts are variable around the valley
6. Growing Degree Days (GDD) are tracking closely with the 2010 vintage

While every vintage is unique, lessons can be drawn from previous growing seasons—especially the 2010 vintage. The 2010 growing season was like the current season in terms of winter rainfall and an unusually cool spring. To hasten ripening, many vineyards were aggressively leafed in order to expose the fruit. A late August heat wave caused significant crop loss due to damaged clusters without canopy protection.      

​While the weather may be cool now, the clusters will need protection from the sun during the late summer and early fall months, so crews should be prudent when making canopy management passes during the next few weeks of the growing season.