Between a mild growing season and one of the coldest Julys for the region since the 1960s, the 2025 harvest in Napa and Sonoma is kicking off to a slower start than in years prior. However, the vintage looks promising—especially for cool-climate grapes—in quality and in crop size with some vintners anticipating an average to slightly lighter than average crop size.
The winegrape harvest hasn’t yet started at St. Francis Winery. Director of Vineyards Jake Terrell reports that based on current conditions, they expect to start in line with last year. In anticipation of harvest, Winemaker Chris Louton and Katie Madigan have been in the vineyards every day to taste fruit and closely monitor vine development. “In the meantime, our vineyard, cellar, and production teams are prepped and ready for the first fruit to arrive,” he noted. In 2024, the St. Francis team completed their entire harvest by early October, concluding with a Cabernet Sauvignon pick from the Russian River Valley.
Excerpt Taken From: Wine Business News
Author: Katherine Martine
