Throughout the summer and fall, articles have appeared seemingly left and right pondering the outcome of the 2010 growing season and what it will mean for Napa Valley wines.   Residents, hospitality staff and winemakers alike sat and nibbled their fingernails in nervous anticipation of 2010 harvest and collectively shivered through an unseasonably chilly summer.   While a wary eye was cast upon Mother Nature’s activities, many a winery released its 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Sangiovese and other red wines.   If one was a fan of big bold red wines, 2007 vintages were for those palates as the weather that year blessed many a vineyard in Napa Valley with mesmerizing conditions for optimal flavorful fruit.    With potentially touted utopian red wine vintages being released at every turn, it is understandable why 2010’s wacky weather would cause heightened consternation.

Mother Nature tossed weather turns and curves that for many a vintner might have seemed like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride:  chilly temperatures, hail, 20% more rain than average, a sudden late season short-lived heat spike and finally an Indian summer that brought reassurance of normalcy.  Wineries tested fans’ knowledge of harvest with guessing games of when they would finish harvest or how much tonnage would be collected.  More importantly, despite outsider doubts, harvest did happen and furthermore, finished.   Despite wild rumors, grapes are not being harvested in January and in some mountain locations grapes do still hang on vines, failed to ripen and never destined to make it into a bottle for your dining table.  Harvest reports have been released by the Napa Valley Vintners, who since 1944 have served as a non-profit association dedicated to the promotion and protection of the Napa Valley appellation as a premier winegrowing region.   Reading its report, fears are set aside and from all signals, 2010 was a year that was not only salvageable but potentially with a few pleasant surprises.

So what do Napa Valley 2010 Harvest indicators mean for you, the casual consumer?

Temperatures were colder than average but that is an understatement compared to summers for at least the last five years, if not longer.   Because temperatures were unseasonably cold, that meant that the ripening of grapes took longer than normal.   How it affected varietals, however, largely depends on the vineyard location because of the many microclimates found within Napa Valley.  Clouds in the skies overhead worked in favor of the farmers of Napa Valley as the vineyards skirted threat of frost but due to the fewer hours of sunshine, canopies of the grapevines were artfully managed.   But in some cases, canopies were trimmed back to better reveal grapes when Mother Nature expedited a triple digit heat spike.   Such temperatures and intense sunlight burned some of the grapes.   One varietal that was affected in particular was Zinfandel due to its earlier ripening stage (compared to Cabernet Sauvignon).   As a result of such sunburn, many Zinfandel grapes raisined and produced an extremely lean yield.   Does this mean that “all” Zinfandel failed in 2010?   Of course not, but it will mean that production will be less*, flavor may not be as hoped and wineries that source grapes from growers may not have the availability for bottling that they have had in the past.   Taking this into account, there are vineyards that did not suffer as much.

In a wine region where Cabernet Sauvignon is “king”, a growing season such as that of 2010 could be disastrous.   However, remembering the various microclimates of Napa Valley, it is possible that there will be lovely vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon.  The warm Indian summer that graced the valley helped nudge along the ripening of this varietal in valley floor vineyards and certain sunshine drenched mountain vineyards.   While this vintage will certainly not be of the caliber of 2007 vintages, it will be less tannic, more fruit forward, concentrated flavors (as the vines produced less) and of lower acidity.

Similarly do not forget about Petite Sirah and Syrah.   Each of these varietals should have benefited from the nudge from the prolonged yet graceful Indian summer that heated Napa Valley in the final stages of harvest.

But what are the surprises of harvest 2010?

Lower alcohol levels in Napa Valley wines will be a surprise to the casual consumer.   With warm sun generally in abundance and hot temperatures to accompany those rays, alcohol levels are higher in California wines than their European counterparts.   This year, due to the cooler temperatures, slower growing process and increased moisture, the alcohol levels for the first time in a very long time will be lower meaning that there should be no “heat” felt off of the red wine varietals making them readily and easily enjoyable.   This also raises the hope of expanding the versatility of pairing cuisine with red wine and a departure from some of the heavier cuisine that is so often paired.

While Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel may not be the default shining stars of 2010 harvest in Napa Valley, Pinot Noir may race to the forefront.   Long recognized for warmer than ideal temperatures for growing Pinot Noir, the cooler temperatures and additional moisture that Napa Valley experienced in 2010 should produce beautiful Pinot Noir.    Pinot Noir should reflect delicacy in its flavors and structure.   Imagine beautiful ripe cherry and berry flavors shifting gracefully to reflect another layer of flavor or spice in an exquisitely structured wine and this is something to hope for in 2010 Pinot Noir vintages.  

If Pinot Noir has the potential to taste wonderful, imagine what that means for sparkling wine in Napa Valley as “blanc de noir” sparkling wines are largely dominated by Pinot Noir.

In sum, 2010 was a year that reminded residents and the world alike that at the end of the day, the wineries are farmers.  In any agri-business, farmers are affected by Mother Nature as no year is ever deemed “average”.  Some years are cooler, wetter, warmer or drier.   Napa Valley wineries are seasoned in its dealings with Mother Nature and are constantly adjusting their practices.   Many wineries have long maintained farming practices that are sustainably mindful of this California region’s growing abilities and limitations.  Vintners will often quip that part of the art of winemaking is ensuring that each vintage reflects the stamp of Mother Nature’s conditions from that unique growing season.   This is indeed part of the art and it makes collecting wine even more enjoyable.  However, rest assured that when Mother Nature takes a swing at Napa Valley, it is in such instances that these farmers rely on their top notch skills, commitment, passion and dedication to continue to produce award-winning wines.

* Lower yields of grapes means smaller productions of your favorite wines.   Generally when there is a smaller supply, prices will rise.   Taking into account the challenging economic climate from the past two years, by the time that 2010 red wines are released, there could be a significant price jump.