(Greenfield, CA) September 27, 2021- The Arroyo Seco Winegrowers Association is excited to announce the 2021 Harvest is underway.
The first wine grapes to leave the vineyard headed for the winery were grapes for the sparkling wine program at Wente Vineyard. “We are thrilled to begin harvest with one of my favorite programs, our Arroyo Seco Brut Sparkling Wine,” stated 5th Generation Winegrower, Sr. Vineyard and Viticulture Manager at Wente Vineyards, Niki Wente. “Arroyo Seco is home to ideal weather conditions for sparkling wine thanks to the cool climate and foggy days that lead to an extremely long ripening period for Chardonnay. We love crafting our sparkling wine from Chardonnay grown in Arroyo Seco because that extra hang time allows for beautiful flavor concentration in the fruit, even at the lower harvest brix. The 2021 vintage is looking and tasting great already!
“This harvest is later than in past years! A later harvest allows for longer hang time. As a result, the flavors develop further and acid levels are perfect. We really have been dealt the ideal card from Mother Nature who is gifting us with added grape time on the vine. That time is allowing all of the essential the pieces to come together naturally for the perfect vintage”, said Russell Joyce, winemaker and owner of Joyce Wine Company.
“As we enter into the fourth week of September our members are harvesting Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and by end of week Chardonnay. Next week we will be kicking into high gear and our winemakers are ready and excited at what they are seeing in the vineyard,” stated Julie Rosenau, Executive Director of the Arroyo Seco Winegrowers Association.
About the Arroyo Seco Winegrowers
The Arroyo Seco Winegrowers Association provides advocacy, marketing and support services to its winery and winegrower members by educating consumers, media and trade audiences on the distinct characteristics of the region in an effort to bring broader awareness to the Arroyo Seco American Viticultural Area. As one of oldest of the nine AVAs within Monterey County, the Arroyo Seco is a cool climate AVA influenced by the Monterey Bay, well-drained rocky soils, extreme winds and experienced growers who have been growing grapes for over 40 years. For more information on the winegrape growers and wines from the Arroyo Seco AVA, please visit ArroyoSecoWinegrowers.com.
