Most grapes already harvested as rainy season gets off to a late start

By JENNIFER HUFFMAN, Register Staff Writer

Local vintners are breathing a sigh of relief as Wednesday's early morning and daytime rain arrived at the tail end of this year's record harvest.

Jennifer Kopp, of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, said she surveyed local vintners as the rain began late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

"Nobody I've talked to this morning seems overly concerned," said Kopp. "Most growers are 90 percent in at this point, if not 100 percent in. The rain is not ideal, but the good news is that we have some wind coming that will air out the clusters and the vines. The majority of what is still out there is cabernet sauvignon, and that has such an ample canopy that it shelters the fruit somewhat."

Patrick Elliott-Smith of Atlas Peak's Elan Vineyards, who typically harvests his fruit later in the season, said he was 90 percent done harvesting. With the wet weather, Elliott-Smith held off on plans to pick Wednesday, but he anticipated completing his last block Thursday morning.

"We were supposed to pick today, and we did not," said Elliott-Smith. "This year, everyone's late because of the cool spring. Today's rain is fairly mild. All in all, I think we've been very lucky. If the forecast is correct, we're hoping to finish up the last block tomorrow morning," he said. "We're very optimistic with the quality of this vintage."

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