2018
The 2018 vintage began with a cool, dry winter. Approximately 70% of the annual rainfall for the vintage came in February and March. The later and lower than normal rainfall helped to push bud break into mid to late March, later than what was expected but earlier than what is normal.
Temperatures fluctuated in April, with some minor frost events. May and June alternated between warm and cool temperatures during flowering, including a few windy days that affected fruit set. Warm weather brought on signs of veraison in the last week of July. A six-week heat wave continued till mid-August which delayed ripening and maturity. Once the heat subsided the weather returned to a more normal pattern through harvest. This cool period extended harvest, making for a more even, less stressful harvest.