Season Update

It’s August 1st and we’re still patiently waiting for veraison to finish up here at the Estate Vineyard. For those who don’t live in the vines like we do, veraison is that magical moment when grapes begin to change color and shift into their final ripening stage. White grapes turn translucent, and red grapes like Pinot Noir start their slow transformation from green to deep red and purple. It’s one of the most visually exciting moments in the vineyard! This year, though, we have really slowed down this past month—and the weather has everything to do with it.

Here we compare two clusters of Estate Pinot Noir from the same time frame in 2024 vs 2025. The cluster on the left is from this year and the right one is from last year, this slight difference could mean a two-week difference in our harvest window!

So far, summer has been cool and mellow across Sonoma County. Daytime highs have mostly stayed in the low to mid-70s, with plenty of fog in the mornings and crisp evenings in the 50s. San Francisco has been even chillier, with highs in the mid-60s and that classic summer marine layer hanging tough. The result? Slower vine development and lower-than-average heat accumulation, or what we call “growing degree days.” As of now, we’re tracking slightly behind last year and slightly ahead of 2023!— At this rate, we’re expecting harvest to begin mid-September and possibly carry into October. That opens the door to two very different outcomes: early fall rains could pose challenges, or we could benefit from extended hang time that allows grapes to develop beautifully complex flavors. Either way, the next couple of months will be critical.

This is a picture of the sun trying to come out over the Estate vineyard this past July, it has been a “classic” Cool Climate Sonoma County summer so far!

This past month we focused on leaf removal around the grape clusters. Our vineyard rows are planted north to south, so we target the east-facing (morning) side of the vines. This allows the gentle morning sun to dry off the overnight dew on the grapes, which naturally helps prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew and botrytis. It also gives the grapes a little boost in ripening—something we need this year with the season running behind. We leave the west (afternoon) side of the vines intact, where the leaf canopy acts like a natural sunscreen. Those leaves are crucial during late summer heat waves, shielding the fruit from harsh sunlight and preventing sunburn. It’s a careful balance of exposure and protection—one of the many ways we fine-tune the vineyard to the season.

The bottom section is the west or “afternoon” side, and the top section is the leafed, east facing “morning” side.

We’ve also completed hedging this month. As the vine shoots grow tall and spill over the top wire of the trellis, they begin to flop into the rows—blocking our ability to drive the tractor through for other vineyard tasks. Hedging keeps the rows clear, but more importantly, it helps redirect the vine’s energy. By trimming the excess shoot growth, we shift the plant’s focus away from leafy vegetation and back toward ripening the fruit—exactly what we want right now.

These small but essential steps—managing sunlight, airflow, and energy balance—help set us up for a strong finish to the growing season. The vines may have slowed down but we’re giving them every chance to catch up and deliver another great vintage!

On behalf of the entire team here at River Road Family Vineyard and Winery, we wish you all continued good health.

Be Well,