2006 Sonoma Vintage

Sonoma's 2006 weather story comes from Wine Spectator's preliminary 2006 Vintage Report Card, published in December 2006; no Sonoma County Winegrowers or Vintners report for the year was located. According to Wine Spectator, Sonoma County had a cool and soggy spring, and the growing season got off to a late start. That wet spring meant botrytis and mildew were a threat throughout the season. The late start turned out to be a good thing in July, Wine Spectator reports, when temperatures rose above 100 degrees for a few days: the grapes were still hard and green, so sunburn was kept to a minimum. The magazine's Central Coast report describes the same July heat wave as one that hammered the North Coast. October turned rainy. Wine Spectator says growers in cooler areas like Carneros, Sonoma Coast and Russian River came through if they managed to ripen and harvest their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay before the October rains, while others were not so lucky. Thicker-skinned grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon generally survived the early rain and reached good ripeness thanks to the temperate weather that followed. In the magazine's words, growers saw everything from heat stroke to bunch rot in the vineyards.

• Spring (per Wine Spectator): cool and soggy, with a late start to the season and botrytis and mildew a threat throughout
• July: temperatures above 100 degrees for a few days, with sunburn kept to a minimum because the grapes were still hard and green, according to Wine Spectator
• October: rain arrived; Wine Spectator says Pinot Noir and Chardonnay growers in Carneros, Sonoma Coast and Russian River came through if they harvested first
• Thicker-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon generally survived the rain and ripened well in the temperate weather that followed, per Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator gave Sonoma a preliminary grade of B- and reported that, despite the challenges, vintners felt the good ultimately outweighed the bad in 2006. "This was the year of the vineyard manager, and you really had to be on top of your vineyard," Christine Hanna, owner of Hanna winery, told Wine Spectator. The report found Cabernet and Merlot, particularly in Alexander Valley, showing dark colors. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel varied widely by subregion, but Wine Spectator expected them to be generally more crisp and elegant. The bright spot was Sauvignon Blanc: vintners agreed 2006 was a top year for it, with consistent sun and a long, cool growing season building complex flavors whether the wines came out tart and citrusy or as tropical fruit bombs.

• Wine Spectator preliminary grade for Sonoma: B-
• Alexander Valley Cabernet and Merlot: showing dark colors
• Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel: varied widely by subregion, generally more crisp and elegant
• Sauvignon Blanc: vintners agreed it was a top year