Photos: Laura Barrett of Casey Flat Ranch; Lodi harvest; Tony Biagi of Hourglass

Q. How's the 2014 wine harvest stacking up to other years?
A. Temperatures have been almost identical to 2013.

Napa Valley - Capay Valley northeast of Napa, harvest  started the earliest on record (August 4) for Sauvignon Blanc at  Casey Flat Ranch. The quality of white grapes are comparable to last year while red grape harvest, which came in early, sees smaller berry sizes, expected to produce more concentrated wine. The new "early" --red grape harvest was almost identical to last year.

Lodi winegrowers are scrambling, picking early and fast. Heat conditions are almost identical to last year. Quality looks to be exceptional with old vine Zins some of the lightest crops seen--yields are down all across the board. Low yields can produce intense and concentrated Zins.

Napa Valley winemaker Tony Biagi has seen more of a hurry up and wait situation, with flowering & fruit-set starting quickly, then a cooler end to August coupled with early September fog which has slowed the harvest.

Sonoma -  across the Mayacamas Mountains yields meet expectations with better acids than anticipated. The drought has had minimal impact on the harvest. Picking was early & fast with the last day of harvest September 13 for Kirk Lokka, vineyard manager for Emeritus Vineyards.

Information supplied by Charles Communications Associates, reported by Alex Fondren