Wine Harvest 2021 in California: smaller in size, phenomenal in quality

Dan Berger / Napa Valley Register

The bottom line: California’s 2021 harvest will prove to be smaller in size statewide than the average of the last six years, but the quality looks phenomenal, almost across the board.

The fruit was as clean as any in a decade, with no smoke impact, which damaged fruit in many areas in the last several years, notably 2020.

Several winemakers told me that early spring vine growth in the north allowed grapes plenty of time on vines, developing proper flavors. And while flavors were developing, sugars didn’t rise as rapidly.

Many winemakers said flavor development was near perfect early -- even though sugar levels were lower than they had seen in the last quarter-century!

https://napavalleyregister.com/wine/columnists/dan-berger/dan-berger-on-wine-harvest-2021-in-california-smaller-in-size-phenomenal-in-quality/article_f7a37d8f-ad41-53a9-b72b-72c23b8d677e.html

Berger notes some ultra-premium Cab producers will see lower yields. But that shouldn't matter IMO -- they'll just raise prices. Investors playing the futures market will reap rare vintage rewards years from now. Won't make a difference to the really big money either -- these oenophiles spend thousands per bottle without blinking an eye.