by Larry Walker

It is too soon to talk about wine quality from the 2008 California grape harvest, but there is plenty of talk about how an unusual weather pattern has affected the grapes.  And there are even rumblings of a possible grape shortage.

The 2008 growing season has ranged from heavy winter rains, to a hard frost in the spring to high temperatures at harvest. The frost is apparently the major factor in a crop that is coming in at least 20 percent below 2007 levels statewide.

Although grape quality is reported good throughout the state, there are concerns about low acid levels. Dan Lee, owner of Morgan Winery in Monterey County on the Central Coast said he was asking growers to leave the crop hanging a little longer in order to get acid levels higher. “Sugar levels are coming up faster because of the warm weather, but I am concerned about the grapes reaching physiological ripeness,” he said.

Dan Goldfield, winemaker at Dutton-Goldfield in Sonoma County on the North Coast said, “Some great wines will be made this year, and some not so great. This is a year when good farming practices will pay off.”

At the beginning of October, the harvest was running ten days to two weeks early in most of the state, with roughly one-half of the crop picked, easing any fears of harvest rainfall.

If the tonnage is as low as predicted, it could lead to a shortage, especially for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which would push prices higher for wineries and, down the road, for consumers.

It’s a completely different story in Washington state, where the harvest is a little behind schedule. Doug Gore, senior winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle, the state’s largest winery, said the growing season was “perfect.” He is expecting outstanding Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.