A Look Back on the 2013 Vintage

2013 has been an incredible year for the vineyards of the Napa Valley, with the Napa Valley Vintners calling this year's growing season "early, even, and excellent." The 31 acres we have planted around the Castello with Sangiovese, Merlot, Primitivo, and Cabernet Sauvignon developed beautifully over the course of the year, and we loved tracking the beauty each season brought to the vines. Now that another record year in the valley is coming to a close and the vineyards again lay dormant, we're looking back on the fruits of this year's labors. Here are a few of our favorite vinyeard photos from this past year:

January 

Sir Lancelot enjoyed playing beneath the dormant Primitivo vines in front of the Castello

February

The Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards above the Castello, pruned back to allow healthy new buds to begin forming

March

The vines began "weeping" in preparation for the arrival of new buds

April

Bud break arrived at the Castello in early April, and the vineyards quickly brightened with springtime colors

May

The warm, dry spring we had throughout the valley allowed for earlier bud break and perfect conditions for flowering

June

June saw the arrival of berries on the vines. 

The vines saw a bit of rain in a summer shower

July

The warm summer months allowed for an even ripening of the berries. Here a cool glass of Charonnday rests among the Primitivo vines.

August

The end of August saw verasion in the vineyards, as the berries began to ripen and change color.

September

Primitivo vines and berries in front of the Castello

The Merlot vineyards almost ready for harvest!

October

November

December

 

Cheers to the end of another fantastic year in the Napa Valley! We're looking forward to 2014!