According to Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), grapes began making their way to crush pads in earnest last week, signalling the start of Napa’s 2025 harvest.
Mumm Napa was one of the first producers to pick, harvesting Pinot Noir from Yountville on 8 August. Also kicking off on the 8th was Round Pond Estate with its Chardonnay grapes from Rutherford. Both wineries intend to use the grapes for sparkling wines.
“We couldn’t be more excited for how the 2025 vintage is taking shape. We’ve had ideal growing conditions this summer, setting our vineyard and grapes up for success,” said Round Pond winemaker Jeffrey Plant.
“We’re hoping that Napa Valley will have three amazing vintages back to back to back. Fingers crossed!”
Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio
On 11 August, Truchard Vineyard in Carneros picked five tons of Pinot Noir, with the early harvest date helping to facilitate naturally low-alcohol rosé wines for The Vice, which makes wine from 15 of Napa’s 16 wine regions. Founder and winemaker Malek Amrani, who previously held sales positions with Moet Hennessy and Diageo, said he is anticipating “crisp and pure” 2025 wines.
Meanwhile, Benessere Vineyards, which specialises in Italian varieties, got underway with Pinot Grigio in St. Helena on 12 August.
“Pinot Grigio does tend to ripen early, but this is the first time it’s come in before 15 August,” said Benessere winemaker Matt Reid. “I sampled it last week and knew it was time to get going. The grapes/juice are just where I want them. It tastes amazing.”
Calling the 2025 vintage “all I could ask for”, Reid added that “ample rainfall before budbreak, followed by great weather at budbreak and bloom, with a mild summer, means we have even ripening of a good-size crop. I’m really excited for the 2025 wines.”
Sauvignon Blanc was also harvested last week (week beginning 11 August), with producers Inglenook and St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery both getting going. Blackbird Vineyards is also expected to harvest around 10 tons of Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc this week.
Hallmark of the vintage
Vintage 2025 is being lauded across Napa Valley for its unusual coolness, which winemakers hope will lead to exceptional wines.
“The cool summer has been the hallmark of the vintage,” said Aaron Pott, winemaker at Blackbird Vineyards and Pott Wines.
“The cold Pacific Ocean has brought the marine layer inland and ‘Carl the Fog’ has dominated the valley the entire summer,” he explained. “This year, its influence has been strong. It is the coldest summer since 1999, so we will party like it is 1999.”
Echoing Pott’s views, Inglenook winemaker Jonathan Tyer hailed 2025 for being “one of the coolest summers in recent memory”. Consequently, the vines have enjoyed “a graceful, unhurried ripening,” he said.
Picking for Viognier is expected to start by mid-September, with early-ripening reds to follow towards the third week of September, estimates Pott.
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