california grape harvest.......

Hi.....in a few weeks my local supplier will have his listing of prices,etc. of california wine grapes.I was wondering if anyone has been following the growing season reports and might know what kind of grapes are expected to be best this season?The grapes available to me are from the central valley 'over cropped" vineyards but still I would expect that the growing conditions would be more favorable to some varieties more than others if you follow my thinking here......any suggestions,thoughts?....it would be good if someone here who really knows how these things work could give an update or something every few days or weekly......just cutting and pasting the url we should be directed to would be great....would make the decision process a lot simpiler for the simple like me......thanks.......andy j......N.B.,Canada

Hi again......is the central valley harvest under way?......my local supplier here has not recieved the price listings etc. from Montreal yet....anyone on here get any California grapes yet ??......and what is the quality of Merlot and Cab.Sauv. generally like this year?......andy j.

The grapes at the Northern end of the valley are gone by now. I picked mine near Sacramento a few weeks ago at 24 Brix for C. Sauv, Merlot and . franc. Warren Place

Here are my numbers for pailed Regina juice picked up in Pittsburgh. Regina is Central Valley fruit. The acid samples were degassed, but the juice was not fermenting, I get it when it comes off the trucks.

Initial Values SG TA g/l pH:

Date: 09/03/2004 (corr. to 68 F)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1 1.088 blend X Cabernet Sauvignon 2 1.086 6.82 3.28

Syrah 1 1.090 blend X Syrah 2 1.090 6.45 3.46

Riesling 1 1.084 blend X Riesling 2 1.085 5.48 3.39

Sauvignon Blanc 1.083 4.95 3.39

Joe

I ran numbers on a couple of Santa Barbara County vineyards on September

Los Alamos Chardonnay: 21.2° Brix, pH 3.29 Santa Maria Chardonnay: 21.8° Brix, pH 3.18

It's been warm lately. I'll probably harvest in ten days or so.

Tom S