Vintages

2015 Napa Valley Vintage

A warm dry winter pulled bud break forward by up to three weeks, a cool May made for a long flowering and uneven set, and the first grapes came off on July 22.

2015 was early and small. A warm, dry winter with erratic rain brought bud break as much as three weeks ahead of normal in some places, and Napa Valley received nearly 75 percent of normal precipitation over the year. A cool May caused problems with berry set, with a long flowering period followed by somewhat uneven fruit set. Harvest opened on July 22 with the first sparkling picks at Mumm Napa Valley, one of the earliest starts in recent memory, and fruit arrived at wineries seven to ten days ahead of the already-early 2014. Most Napa Valley winemakers described quality as high but quantities as notably low. Wildfire burned at the fringes of the county, but prevailing winds kept most smoke out and there were no reports of smoke taint affecting Napa Valley wines.

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Growing season

Winter rains were erratic, with more rain in December 2014 than in all the other winter months combined. January was dry, with a mere 0.11 inches recorded at a Calistoga home, and warm. The warm, dry weather led to early bud break, as much as three weeks ahead of normal in some places, followed by a long, relatively cool flowering and fruit set period, in a season of alternating warm and cool patterns. Early bud break raises the frost question, because delicate new shoots lack the resilience of dormant canes. The Oakville weather station recorded lows of 32 degrees on March 9 and March 24, and no other lower temperatures, with March and April nights otherwise mild. May temperatures were cool enough to cause some problems with berry set, a process that cool weather prolongs and that reduces yields when flowers go unpollinated. The cool spring brought a long flowering period followed by somewhat uneven fruit set. The growing season overall ran warmer than any since 2008, and Matt Reid of Benessere Vineyards counted fewer days over 100 degrees than he considered typical. A summer of limited heat spikes helped Napa Valley vintners keep water use minimal. A few rain showers in May, June and July did not affect crop quality and did nothing to relieve the ongoing drought. Napa Valley received nearly 75 percent of normal precipitation over the year, and the relatively dry, warm winter resulted in small clusters with highly concentrated flavors.

More rain fell in December 2014 than in all other winter months combined; January 2015 was dry and warm
Bud break ran as much as three weeks ahead of normal in some places
The Oakville station logged 32 degree lows on March 9 and March 24 and no other lower temperatures
Cool May temperatures caused problems with berry set, giving a long flowering and uneven fruit set
The season ran warmer than any since 2008, with limited heat spikes and fewer 100 degree days than typical
Napa received nearly 75 percent of normal precipitation, and small clusters with concentrated flavors followed

Key Facts

The warm, dry winter led to early bud break, as much as three weeks earlier than normal in some places
Napa Valley received nearly 75 percent of normal precipitation over the year, and the dry, warm winter resulted in small clusters with highly concentrated flavors
A cool May caused problems with berry set, with a long flowering period followed by somewhat uneven fruit set
Harvest began July 22, 2015 with the first Napa Valley sparkling-wine picks at Mumm Napa Valley, one of the earliest starts in recent memory
Fruit came into wineries seven to ten days earlier than in 2014, and the growing season ran warmer than any since 2008
Quality ran high but quantities were notably low, especially against the three record-setting harvests before it, according to most Napa Valley winemakers
The Wragg and Jerusalem fires burned at the fringes of Napa County, but prevailing winds kept most smoke out and there were no reports of smoke taint affecting Napa Valley wines

A fire season that stayed outside the valley

2015 was a difficult fire season for California. The Wragg and Jerusalem fires burned at the fringes of Napa County, while the Valley Fire dramatically impacted Lake County to the north. For the most part, prevailing winds kept the smoke out of Napa Valley. Smoke that blew in from fires in Trinity and Humboldt counties came too late to be metabolized by the grapes, and Reid wrote that there would be no issues of smoke taint in 2015 Napa Valley wines. No Napa Valley vineyards or wineries were damaged by wildfire, and there were no reports of smoke taint affecting Napa Valley wines.

The Wragg and Jerusalem fires burned at the fringes of Napa County during a hard California fire season
Prevailing winds kept most smoke out of Napa Valley
Smoke arriving from Trinity and Humboldt county fires came too late to be metabolized by the grapes
The Valley Fire hit Lake County to the north, but no Napa Valley vineyards or wineries were damaged
There were no reports of smoke taint affecting Napa Valley wines

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An early harvest and a small crop

Harvest opened on July 22 when the first Napa Valley sparkling-wine producers started picking, with Mumm Napa Valley the winery that began that morning and Ludovic Dervin its winemaker. It was one of the earliest starts in recent memory. Fruit came into wineries seven to ten days earlier than in 2014, itself an early year, and most vintners were set to finish by mid-October, making it one of the region's earliest harvests ever. After the large harvests of 2012, 2013 and 2014, most growers had expected a more typical crop load. Most Napa Valley winemakers described quality as high but quantities as notably low, especially compared with the last three record-setting harvests.

Harvest began July 22 with the first sparkling picks at Mumm Napa Valley, one of the earliest starts in recent memory
Fruit arrived at wineries seven to ten days earlier than in the already-early 2014
Most vintners were set to finish by mid-October, among Napa's earliest harvests ever
Quality ran high and quantities were notably low against the record harvests of 2012 to 2014

Food Pairings

Grilled ribeye or prime rib with herb butter, where the wine's concentrated dark fruit and ripe tannins stand up to the richness of well-aged beefBraised short ribs with root vegetables and a red wine reduction, complementing the vintage's generous, fruit-forward characterRoasted lamb rack with rosemary and garlic, pairing the wine's cedar and graphite notes with the savory herbsHard aged cheeses such as aged Gouda or Manchego, providing salty contrast to the wine's ripe fruit and firm tanninWild mushroom and truffle pasta, drawing out the earthy secondary notes that emerge in well-cellared 2015 Cabernets

Exam Study NotesWSET / CMS

A warm, dry winter brought bud break as much as three weeks early in some places, and Napa received nearly 75 percent of normal precipitation over the year.
Cool May temperatures caused problems with berry set, with a long flowering period followed by uneven fruit set.
The season ran warmer than any since 2008, with limited heat spikes and fewer 100 degree days than typical.
Harvest began July 22 with the first sparkling picks at Mumm Napa Valley, seven to ten days ahead of the already-early 2014, and most vintners were set to finish by mid-October.
Wildfire burned at the fringes of Napa County, but prevailing winds kept most smoke out and there were no reports of smoke taint affecting Napa Valley wines.

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