Sonoma County Harvest Update

 I sat in on a webinar presentation on Aug 12th hosted by Sonoma County Winegrowers along with a representative from the grape growing side (Cameron Maurtison) and the winemaking side (Nicole Hitchcock).

Cameron is from a well-known wine family, the Mauritsons, who own several hundred acres of grapes in northern Sonoma County and in nearby Lake County. He is part of the family's 6th generation working in the local wine biz.

Nicole works for J winery, purchased a few years ago by Gallo, and is known for their sparkling wines. 2015 was her first harvest at J (the year Gallo purchased the winery).

Notes from the webinar:

This year's crop

C: It's been a smooth year with good weather. Whites are currently at 16-20 brix. Seems to be a bit lighter crop this year when compared with the five year average, but won't really know until we're done.

N: Has seen quick ripening the last ten days. About a week into the sparkling wine harvest.
My note: We have a heat wave coming so things could be speeding up.

Covid and labor

On the growing side the changes have come from Cal OSHA, along with state and county requirements. The county ag commissioner has masks avail.

C: Safety is always number one of the list; this year sanitation is also. They have quarantine housing in needed. They got most of their employees before the lockdown happened so they are in good shape.

N: Lots of employee training including cleaning in/cleaning out when you move to a different spot/work area. Daily wellness checks and teaching employees how to self-determine if they have symptoms.
My note: The crisis they want to avoid is having Covid hit the harvest crew and everyone has to quarantine, including the winemaker.

Labor availability

C: Going okay as there's been less work in the yineyard this year with the good grape growing season.

N: We have adequate staffing, lots of returnees from previous years. Trying to plan for the "what if" Covid hits.

The marketplace for selling grapes and selling wine

My note: There is a glut of grapes and you've probably heard the stories about wineries trying to sell wine during Covid. 

Sonoma County ag organizations trying to help sell fruit, including out of the county.
It helps that SoCo has a good reputation for quality fruit.

C: There are going to be winners and losers during Covid. About half their grapes go to their own winery (Mauritson).

N: Trying to keep up with how demand might be changing.

A final note

These two folks aren't necessarily typical of Sonoma County growers and winemakers. 

The Mauritsons farm about 1,000 acres and keep half for their own winery and sell the other half. This is much larger than the typical grower plus most do not have their own winery -- they must sell all of their fruit every year. 

J Winery, being part of Gallo, has many more resources than your typical small winery. 

What I'm saying is these two may be having an easier time of the harvest than the ma-and-pa operations are experiencing.