Harvest at Elan Vineyards

After two winters with far less than average rainfall and some frost damage this spring, we anticipated that the 2008 harvest would be a light one in terms of grape tonnage. It was worse than
expected. The thirty to forty percent drop we experienced was common throughout Napa Valley. However, the quality of our fruit is superb, beautiful small jet-black berries.

We picked our Cabernet Sauvignon on October 6th which is about a week earlier than usual. It was a windy day. I noticed two red-tailed hawks gliding above us, effortlessly. I believed this was a good omen; at any rate better than buzzards circling. The crew was from Oaxaca, Mexico. I had worked
with them before and they are great. They pick cleanly and do not thrash the vines. From a distance, it looked like we were using child labor, because none of them is taller than five feet. Our Rottweiler, Coco was eating some of the fallen grapes as she followed the picking crew. Perhaps she thought she
was doing her part.

The grapes are now fermenting gently in our cellar and the vintage is very promising.

Thank you for sharing our passion.

Sante'

Patrick

As always, enjoy Elan wines in good health with your family and friends.