Weather  
Today

Overcast and drizzly today, the first non-sunny day since rain on the 20th.

So, of course, we're picking the Riesling today. It is ripe, but still bright in acid (23+ brix and 2.99 pH, fruit sample). Just what we want in Riesling.

Total rain this month = 1.55 inches.

We're ready to call the vintage as our 3rd Excellent Vintage in a row!

Lynn Penner-Ash, Rex Hill winemaker, has named 2000 the "Sleep Is Over-rated" Vintage, in reference to the compact, long-hours aspect.

Harvest  2000  October 25, 2000

And It Isn't A Train.

Cheryl Reflecting a Sunny Harvest

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it gets brighter every day.

We've drained and pressed one or two pinot noir fermentors daily, so there is less and less routine work punching down, handling fruit, and the like. And it is a good thing.

Everyone has had a day off and we're beginning our second round letting the crew off one-by-one today.

Fog Recedes on a Late Harvest Day

Drained and pressed pinot lots are barreled down the next day after settling. Barrel stacks are building daily in the back cellar--this year we've had to go three-high due to volume, the first time at that height.

Total grapes processed for 2000, before the three or four tons of Riesling today, are as follows:

Riesling, The Last Harvest

And with minor Pinot blanc, Gamay noir, and Riesling, totally processing 201 tons, the largest quantity to-date.

Increase was, as is evident above, by bringing more acreage in, not because of significantly larger tonnage per acre.

It's the first time ever for three great vintages in a row in Oregon, so the light at the end of the tunnel should be another promised land, or if it IS a train it should be going our direction.

It's been intense, but it's been fun.

Harry