08/28/2025
We’ve just passed the halfway point of véraison, that beautiful moment when the grapes start to soften and change color — green berries turning deep purple and gold. Walking the vineyard right now feels magical.
This year looks like a smaller crop for us. The clusters are bit looser than previous years, and we’re seeing quite a few “chicks and hens” — tiny berries mixed in with larger ones. The berries themselves are small, which usually means less juice but more concentration and flavor. It feels like one of those years where what we lose in quantity, we’ll make up for in quality.
Each block is ripening on its own schedule. Out here, high up in our little “cool and sunny bowl,” you can feel the energy shifting as the vines focus on ripening. It’s one of our favorite times of year — when you can almost sense what’s coming, but we’re not quite there yet.