2013 Sonoma Vintage

Wine Spectator called 2013 a long and moderate growing season, one that got off to an early start across Sonoma's appellations and ran early all the way to harvest. Benovia winemaker Mike Sullivan told Wine Spectator, "We saw even flowering, veraison and very uniform ripening for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay," and the same held for most varieties. Summer brought an abundance of sunshine with temperatures rarely spiking above the mid-90s F, and cooler temperatures in early August slowed ripening. The early fall rains that had troubled recent harvests never arrived beyond a few sprinkles, and the little rain that fell in the final weeks of harvest was followed by warm, windy weather that kept mold away. Picking began on Friday, August 9, with 2.5 tons of Pinot Noir for sparkling wine from Robert Hunter Winery's Hunter Farms Estate Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, and J Vineyards followed on the night of August 11 in the Russian River Valley. By October 11 the harvest was 85 to 90 percent complete and expected to finish within a week or two, about 3 weeks ahead of schedule compared to previous vintages. The crop was large, clearly above average and possibly matching the 267,000 tons of 2012.

• Early start and early all season, with even flowering and uniform ripening in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
• Sunny summer with temperatures rarely above the mid-90s F; an early-August cool spell slowed ripening
• Harvest opened August 9 in Sonoma Valley and was 85 to 90 percent complete by October 11, on course to finish about 3 weeks ahead of schedule
• An above-average crop that may equal 2012's 267,000 tons

Sparkling wine grapes, picked at lower ripeness, are commonly the first in each year, and 2013 was no exception: J Vineyards took twenty tons of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from Nicole's Vineyard for its Cuvee 20 sparkling blend. In August, warmer Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley expected an early start around mid-September, while cooler Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast forecast a start close to normal in early September. By mid-October, mostly Zinfandel remained, with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Pinot Noir and Syrah. On October 16 Sonoma County was as much as 95 percent done, roughly three weeks before the usual end date. For context, the wider North Coast harvest started on August 1, with Napa grapes for sparkling wine.

• Warmer Dry Creek and Alexander valleys were forecast to start around mid-September; Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast in early September
• Zinfandel made up most of the fruit still hanging in mid-October
• Up to 95 percent picked by October 16, roughly three weeks before the usual end

"It's really a fantastic growing season," Karissa Kruse told the Press Democrat, adding that it was rare to see two great seasons back to back, and that the year appeared equally good for all regions and varieties. Wine Spectator named Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Syrah as the promising grapes. Santa Rosa winemaker Carol Shelton was especially high on Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah and told the Press Democrat, "I am amazed how little rot there was." The one complaint was volume. The large crop left space at a premium at many wineries, and Porter Creek winemaker Alex Davis told Wine Spectator, "The only challenge we had was finding enough space to put all that nice wine."

• Wine Spectator's promising grapes: Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Syrah
• Clean fruit with little rot, Carol Shelton told the Press Democrat
• Cellar space, not weather, was the main challenge of the large crop