harvest reports
Harvest 1999
As we press out the last of our Cabernet Sauvignon in November, we are able to take a breath and reflect on the harvest as a whole. The winery smells are heady right now with young warm Cabernet aromas, new oak barrels being filled, pomace, wet earth and fall leaves. The one single word that sums up our inaugural harvest at home is “swift”! Nearly the entire Spottswoode vineyard was picked within a week’s time, due to the very warm weather we experienced in late September which set harvest in motion. This quick pace didn’t stop us from appreciating our new home. Even the lowly pumpover turned out to be a favorite task. We have a beautiful cathedral-like cedar ceiling with great downlighting in the fermentation room, making this rather unglamorous but essential job quite a pleasure.
—Rosemary Cakebread, Winemaker
