harvest reports
Harvest 2002: August
To My Friends:
Benziger Family Winery began the 2002 harvest on Friday, August 23rd. with the first load of Sauvignon Blanc grapes in the press.
Before anything else, 2002 will be remembered as the harvest defined by the oversupply of grapes; not just in California, but worldwide. Grape prices are dropping and, at the end of harvest a significant number of grapes will be left on the vine without a home. We expect the 2002 harvest to be about 8-10% larger than normal, but that percentage is reduced daily by the continuing thinning of grapes in the field. This is good news for our customers because only grapes of the highest quality will be left for picking. To date (and its early in the game), grape quality is extremely high.
Interestingly, here is a little history of harvest start dates and characteristics covering the last seven years:
1996 start 8/19 hot
1997 start 8/27 big harvest, big wines
1998 start 8/15 wet, cold
1999 start 9/16 dry, cold
2000 start 8/23 average late rains
2001 start 8/20 warm, dry
2002 start 8/23 windy (as of 8/28)
Rolling Knolls Sauvignon Blanc Harvest 2002
Whole clusters into the press.
Benziger Family Vineyards
Sonoma Mountain, August 29, 2002