What Growers are Saying As Sonoma Valley Harvest Begins

Harvest season has begun in California’s Sonoma Valley.

Multiple grape picks began taking place this week in both the Los Carneros and Sonoma Valley AVAs. One of the first to begin was Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, which harvested 20 tons of Pinot Noir grapes for their sparkling wine program.

“2022 marks the 40th harvest anniversary for Gloria Ferrer since we opened our winery in 1982. Our team is eager to begin harvest to ensure Gloria Ferrer’s 2022 harvest yields vibrant and fresh grapes,” said Harry Hansen, Senior Vice President of Winegrowing and Winemaking at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards.

Sangiacomo Family Vineyards was set to begin its sparkling harvest early Wednesday.

“Yields look to be average to a little below,” said Steve Sangiacomo, third generation grape grower and partner with Sangiacomo Family Vineyards. “The vine health looks to be good with the help of a couple of spring rains. We are looking for another exceptional vintage and keeping our fingers crossed the weather holds to get us to the finish line.”

It’s Sonoma Valley’s 198th harvest, and to commemorate the beginning of another highly anticipated vintage, the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance is inviting the entire Sonoma Valley community to participate in the traditional valley-wide bell ringing at 11 a.m. on August 17 at the Mission San Francisco Solano.

SVVGA developed this ceremony in 2018 to recognize and celebrate the unprecedented dedication and hard work of Sonoma Valley’s agricultural community, the grape growers, and vintners, as they continue to produce the highest quality winegrapes and wines.

Earlier this July, SVVGA hosted the 3rd Annual Harvest Kickoff Party, where more than 150 vintners, grower members, and community partners gathered at Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery to share in a celebration and toast the Sonoma Valley’s incredible wine and agricultural community.

As the tradition goes, an ‘Honorary Bell Ringer’ is named, who exemplifies true commitment, expertise, passion, and heart for agriculture and the industry. This year, longtime partner, and sponsor to SVVGA, American AgCredit, rang the official Harvest Bell honoring the tradition, during the kickoff party. American AgCredit has supported the Sonoma Valley, its grape growers, and producers, and the SVVGA for decades.