Grape Harvest 2015: Early, Tasty, Very Small

That I'm writing my harvest column a month earlier than last year, which featured winemakers talking about the surprisingly early 2014 harvest, is a hint something historic is afoot. Welcome to Drought Does California, 2015 edition.

Up in the Santa Lucia Highlands, long-time grape-grower Rich Smith (a veteran of 42 harvests) said a week ago, "We've already got hang-time. We've got color in syrah which is usually still green. That means low yield and smaller berries, so the skin-to-volume ratio goes up, which makes winemakers happy and growers not so much."

Want ot read the rest then do so at KCET's Food Blog.

Sip This: J. Wilkes Santa Maria Pinot Noir

J. Wilkes Pinot Noir: This winery has a sad, happy story: original creator and namesake Jeff Wilkes started his business in 2001 after years of working for Bien Nacido Vineyards, but Jeff unfortunately passed away in 2010. Central Coast Wine Services decided to keep the brand alive in his honor, with his assistant Vidal Perez taking over as winemaker.

Want to read the rest then do so at the Indy's site.

The "Foster Father" Winemaker at J. Wilkes Wines

Vidal Perez, the winemaker for J. Wilkes Wines, likes to call his wines his children. When tasting from a tank of 2014 wine he'll say things like, "We were concerned about this chardonnay -- it was a preemie, the Brix was low, and there wasn't enough sugar when harvested." But Perez and his crew have their "tricks," as he repeatedly called them, and in this case it meant pumping wine from the top of the massive 6000-gallon tank into the bottom, in order "to get the yeast stirring and activate the wine even more -- we've been happy with the results." His smile after saying that is the same one a parent might beam after seeing his kid's straight-A report card.

Want to read the rest then do so at the KCET Food Blog.