William Selyem Vineyard 2010
In Napa, it’s been a very strange spring, summer and fall this year. We got a late start to summer and the summer really wasn’t much of a summer except for a very short period of time where it got pretty hot. Now the rain we’ve gotten over the last week isn’t too strange for this time of the year, but it just kinda sucked. Although, this put a crimp in my mood over the last few months, I was still able to go to work, tend to my family and do some coding and…well, do as I normally do.
But, I’m being selfish. I mean, what about our grape growers? According to a recent article from the Press Democrat, it’s been the worst harvest ever. Some vineyards won’t yield one grape due to the horrendous weather. This is their livelihood; this is how they put food on the table. Sure, some of them have insurance to help, but not all. As the article mentions, layer on top of this the down-turn in economy which has impacted what price-point the wine consumer is going after and you have a big, purple mess on your hands.
So, what will happen over the course of the next few years when wineries start releasing the 2010 vintage? This is where we’ll see the true craft of winemakers come through. How do you still make something true to the brand and pleasing to the consumer when you’re challenged with a crop that is low in yield and the quality maybe harder to find? This may make or break some winemakers. Time will tell.
This is the kind of thing that makes this industry so intriguing. Challenges like the weather and economy are just that…challenges. The people of the wine industry are survivors and they make miracles happen. As a wine consumer, these are things that make me really appreciate a nice glass of wine. So, many talented and seasoned people are involved in this product. Maybe this is why I’m so into wine. It’s not just how it tastes or the various characteristics it brings to the tongue. It’s also not just about the feeling I have when I share a great bottle of wine with my wife. It’s even more than that. I can’t put my finger on it, but I think writing this article has helped me discover yet another layer of my mysterious passion for wine and the wine industry.
Good luck to all the grape growers, wineries and everyone involved with turning Harvest 2010 into an amazing vintage!
[pic info: I took this on 10/29/10 at the William Selyem property to pick up my allocation. It was a rainy day and it was kind of cool to take this picture with the droplets coming of the grape...it was fitting for this article too!]
