Throughout a winemaker’s career, they have on average only 20 vintages—in other words, opportunities—to make wine. Each of those years is a different journey from start to finish.
Vintages on a wine bottle reflect the specific set of circumstances that take place during the year. It may be warmer or cooler, rain may come early or late, the growing season may be shorter or longer. Each of these variances has a nuanced impact on the wine. This is one of the best parts for winemakers, as they thrive on the excitement and challenge of vintage variations.
Explore vintage insights at HarvestNapa.com:
- Discover the intricacies of a library wine with vintage recaps, where the history and distinctive characteristics of each year are tracked.
- Watch SommTV’s annual “Napa Valley Vintage Report”—a discussion among winemakers about the vintage—and vintage videos with wine critics and industry professionals such as Karen MacNeil and Amanda McCrossin.
- Follow the upcoming growing season through near-weekly videos covering everything from the dormant period of a vine’s life cycle to veraison, which signifies the ripening of grapes and the lead-up to harvest.
