First 12 Hour Day

September 27, 2012 2 Comments

After weeks of waiting, things finally got crazy. The morning began with 3 Hours of pump overs, then transitioned to running back and forth from the stem truck back to the wheel to wash tanks. Over 200 tons of Zin and Pinot, plus a little Sa Blanc, were crushed and sent to tanks to begin the fermentation process

No it’s not snowing during harvest Sauvignon Blanc + Dry Ice: The dry ice is actually not intended to keep the grapes cool. Its purpose is to create a barrier between the grapes and the oxygen in the air. As the dry ice melts, the Co2 turns directly from a solid to a gas. The Co2  gas is heavier that air and blankets the grapes. This process is necessary to keep the grapes from turning brown or oxidizing.

Stem Truck

 

Pretty self explanatory: Before the grapes are crushed, the stems are separated, then conveyed to this truck to be transported to a dumping area

This is Harvest.

September 26, 2012 Reply

We have officially kicked off Harvest 2012. On 9/19/12 we had a total of 14 tanks going through primary fermentation. All white grapes. One week later, 9/26/12 a total of 47 tanks are going through primary fermentation. A great mix of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and light loads of Chardonnay and Petite Syrah. Everyday more tanks are being filled and everyday new fermentation’s start. This is only the beginning. We are still waiting for Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. As well as, the bulk of Chardonnay and the rest of the Pinot and Zinfandel. All of them are expected to be picked within the next two weeks.

The grapes keep coming in. The tanks are filling up. The pumps are moving the juice from here to there. Hoses are connected, disconnected, and reconnected. The sweet smell of yeast is filling the air. CO2 is steaming out the tops of tanks. Presses are turning. A tank is emptied cleaned and refilled. Acid and nutrients are added. Lees is being filtered. The walkways and in between tanks are being cleaned of grape debris. Pump over lines are being sterilized. The sun comes up… The sun goes down. 

This is Harvest.     

Living the dream ~Jacob

Hello from Jacob

September 20, 2012 2 Comments

Hello everybody. My name is Jacob Bates, and this is my blog. I am new to blogging and generally new to the wine industry. I grew up in San Diego California, and moved to Napa to get a better understanding of how the best wines in the world are made.

Many people have the impression that making wine is a beautiful, glamorous job at some hill side chateau, with sophisticated wine makers standing around an oak barrel inside a beautiful cave with a symphony of classical music playing in the background. For some wineries this might be the case. But in general that is just a fantasy. This blog is intended to give an inside look at what it takes to make wine at Napa Cellars. From last year’s experience I know that I am in for a wild ride. There will be some incredibly hard times, interesting experiences, a few frustrating challenges, and plenty of messy, sticky, cold, wet, sleepless mornings. In the end it will be worth it as I taste the rewards of all the hard work that goes into making wine. Follow along as I learn the ins and outs of working in the cellar. Stay up to date on the process as our work load changes. And finally buy a bottle of Napa Cellars wine and enjoy.

Please feel free to add comments, ask questions, and tell me what you would like to see in this blog. Feedback is the only way I can enhance this experience for you and for myself.

I look forward to giving all of you a firsthand taste at Napa Cellars Harvest 2012.

Beginning of Harvest

September 19, 2012 Reply

Sun Rising

Punched In 4:53 AM
 
It sure is nice driving to work never seeing tail lights in front of you or headlights behind you. Of course, driving home will be a different story, probably consisting of a thousand rental cars slamming on the brakes every time there is a driveway and a sign with French or Italian words on it

Punched Out 1:33 PM

Hello From Andrew

September 18, 2012 Reply

Hi, I’m Andrew, and I’m beginning my second season working harvest for Napa Cellars. I am writing this blog to show people that Napa Cellars wine is made by real people, and is not some magic elixir that bubbles up from the Napa Valley soil. NC wines are truly made by hand with passion and hard work. This blog will be showing my life through the 2012 harvest, and if last year’s harvest was any indication, there will be lots of swirling glasses and spitting into buckets, and blog entries using phrases like “tightly wound” or “assertive without being pushy” Ha! Just kidding, Most likely a picture of harvest would show me standing knee deep in grape skins and seeds franticly shoveling trying to win a free lunch, or possibly my purple t-shirt that I swore was white when I left the house, or driving a forklift stacking barrels to the ceiling of the warehouse hoping there won’t be an earthquake anytime soon.

Welcome to the Napa Cellars Crush Blog

September 5, 2012 1 Comment

For the first time, Napa Cellars will give you a peek behind the curtain during harvest. Two of our interns, Andrew & Jacob, have agreed to document their lives during harvest. We’re grateful to them for giving us this unique opportunity to see what actually happens in the winemaking process.

Enjoy the ride!

-The Napa Cellars Team

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