Cooler temps bode well for Lodi grape harvest underway

Harvest season has begun for Lodi’s grape growers, and some vineyards such as Phillips Farms/Michael David Winery have already finished picking grapes for their white varietals and plan to begin harvesting reds next week.

“We’ve been harvesting whites for the last three weeks, we just finished up with about 1,500 tons,” vineyard manager Kevin Phillips said. “That’s nothing compared to the reds, though. We’re looking at about 20,000 tons.”

While the winery’s farms workers only use machine harvesting for their red grapes, Phillips said their whites were harvested by hand, with workers starting at around 4 or 5 a.m.

“That way, we’re done before the heat kicks in,” Phillips said.

Phillips said this year’s yield was of average size, if not slightly above average, and he expects this year’s harvest season to continue into the first week of November.

“I guess we’re on schedule (this year), but we’re so used to being early that it feels like we’re starting late,” Phillips said.

Michael David’s earliest white varietals could hit the shelves by spring 2019, Phillips said, with their reds available for purchase by December 2019 or January 2020.

“Some of the Cabernets and other wines that sit in barrels and age a little longer, you probably won’t expect to see those on the shelves until early 2021,” Phillips said.

Harney Lane Winery and Vineyards finished harvesting approximately 20 tons of Chardonnay grapes for their winery on Thursday, owner Kyle Lerner said, and plan to begin harvesting other varietals on Saturday with workers harvesting by hand in the mornings and using machines in the evenings.

“We’re starting to think about some Zinfandels coming in, which puts us at about our normal schedule,” Lerner said. “We’ve been early the past couple of years, so it seems late this year, but we’re actually back to normal.”

After two years of drought, one year of flooding and a year to recover, Lerner said the current weather conditions should lead to a more fruitful grape harvest than in years past.

“These cooler temperatures are giving us some really exceptional fruit this year, so if everything plays out, this could be one of those really stellar vintages from Lodi, so we’re very excited about that,” Lerner said.

Consumers can expect to see Harney Lane Winery’s white varietals on the shelves by this time next year, Lerner said, while the reds will probably take longer.

“With reds, usually that’s about a two-year barrel aging process, so you won’t be seeing those until abut 2020,” Lerner said.

Mohr-Fry Ranches began their harvest season on Aug. 11 with grapes used for white wines such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, Bruce Fry, vice president of operations, said on Thursday, as well as San Giovese — an Italian grape used in Rosés.

“We’re about 10 percent done,” Fry said. “We’re just getting started, so there’s still a lot to do.”

Although this year’s crop has been lighter so far than in years past, Fry said that may change as their harvest season usually lasts until October and they grow 12 different types of grapes.

“Quality-wise, the whites we’ve harvested already look good,” Fry said. “The 2018 vintage looks like it should be another one for consumers to enjoy.”