Were you expecting a harvest post from Dolce this early in the year? As much as we would love to celebrate harvest with our sister wineries, it is simply not our time. At this point, we can’t even estimate how many cases this vintage will yield; it could be 300 cases, it could be 3,000.

Patience is key. Many winemakers will jump with joy at the sight of healthy and plump Semillon but we have to hold out just a bit longer before we can even start thinking about harvesting our crops. Do you notice those pinkish-purple grapes hidden among this cluster? These are raisins. Sometime later in the fall is when we anticipate the blushing countenance of botrytis, as the grapes begin to show slightly pink hues. Raisins, though very similar in appearance, are wholly different in terms of flavors and are individually removed at the time of harvest. And the waiting game continues.

Wineries around the valley are currently preparing to harvest red varietals. For us at Dolce, the ripening process has only just begun. Stay tuned for monthly updates from the vineyard.