October
September is now a hazy memory. Harvest last month took on a feverish
pace with picking almost every night and day during the month. Little
to no sleep for the harvest crews (some worked up to 21 hours straight)
led to the month end in what seemed like the blink of an eye. The
reason for such urgent harvesting was that our grapes were at their
optimal ripeness - the flavors were in balance with the acids and
sugars – providing a small window of time in which the grapes
could be harvested in perfect harmony.
The rush to harvest during September has resulted in a much slower
October for our vineyard team and some much needed R & R. Heading
into October, over 85% of St. Supéry’s estate vineyards
had been harvested. Now we wait for the fair Napa Valley weather
to ripen the next round of fruit – the red grapes such as
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec.
October is also a month of preparation for wet weather in the vineyard.
Cover crops are being planted (see January summary) in anticipation
of upcoming rains. Terraced hillside parcels are checked and fixed
to ensure no erosion or slipping occurs with the wet weather arrives.
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The
last of St. Supéry's fruit is being harvested this month
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