The first grapes of the 2019 Sonoma Valley wine harvest came off the vine this morning — or was it late last night?
Promptly at midnight, picking of Pinot Noir grapes began at Sasaki Vineyards. The yield of about 15 tons is destined for sparkling wine for Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards.
This marks the 195th winegrape harvest in the Sonoma Valley.
“These are the most beautiful grapes we have ever seen,” exclaimed grape growers and vineyard owners, Tito and Janet Sasaki. “The crew we have this year is an exceptional group, by far the cleanest pick we have had.”
The 14-acre vineyard was planted in 1974. Tito Sasaki is most notably known for his work serving as a former Sonoma County Farm Bureau President.
The kick-off pick was celebrated by The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA), a nonprofit trade association representing more than 100 wineries and 140 grape growers in Sonoma Valley.
To further commemorate the beginning of the 2019 vintage, the SVVGA invited the entire Sonoma Valley community to participate in the traditional valley-wide bell ringing at high noon this afternoon. In Sonoma, growers, vintners, the local wine community, Sonoma Valley Fire and Police departments, local elected officials, industry partners and more will gathered at the San Francisco Mission Solano bell, today, to ‘ring in the 2019 harvest’ in Sonoma Valley.
“Our heritage includes leadership in California winemaking, exceptional growing conditions and iconic vineyard sites, said SVVGA Board President and COO of Price Family Vineyards & Estates, Prema Behan. “It’s our commitment to winegrowing and the winemaking of world-class wines that is especially evident in days like today. Cheers to a great 2019 Harvest!”
SVVGA encourages community members and the public to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for live video of the Bell Ringing, and later this season as harvest continues across Sonoma Valley.
Photo Credit: Gentleman & a Ginger
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