Our 45th harvest began with the arrival of 25 tons of Sauvignon Blanc grapes from our Certified Sustainable DCV3 and DCV6 vineyards around the corner and across the street from Dry Creek Vineyard. DCV3 Sauvignon Blanc always has a special meaning for me at this time of year, as I think about how that particular vineyard was the first Sauvignon Blanc planted in all of Dry Creek Valley. Much of the world has changed in these past four decades, but our unwavering commitment to our flagship varietal and home appellation remains strong. We prefer to pick some lots of Sauvignon Blanc at a lower ripeness each year, and this year is no exception coming in around 20˚Brix with flavors of citrus and lemongrass and aromas of grapefruit and freshly cut grass.
Here is what Winemaker Tim Bell has to say about this harvest:
“After a few years of serious drought conditions, we were relieved to experience some rainfall during the winter and early spring. Early talk this season has been of lower yields than average and bunch counts pointed to a more abundant harvest than 2015, but still on the low side. Less than ideal weather at set and the resulting looser clusters confirmed those thoughts. But over the past week, berries have filled in and in some cases, once-loose clusters have become tight and full. So will the 2016 harvest be down in tonnage as much as we thought? We’ll have a better idea once fruit starts hitting the scale.”
This week is particularly meaningful for all of us, since it marks the beginning of our 45th harvest! Of course, we are proud of Dry Creek Vineyard’s long and pioneering history, but the future has never looked brighter for our family winery. Our wines are consistently receiving 90+ Point scores from Wine Spectator and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – including a 93-point rating for our 2013 Endeavour Cabernet from Robert Parker. Our tasting room was also recently named in the Top 10 of USA Today’s 10Best Tasting Room poll and is consistently ranked the #1 “Thing to Do” in Healdsburg by Trip Advisor. None of this would be possible without each and every member of our team, from the vineyard crew to the tasting room, with a little help from Mother Nature of course.
We will continue to post more harvest news and winery updates on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. We hope that you will join us and raise a glass of Dry Creek Vineyard wine to toast an incredible 2016 vintage.