Mike Crumly has been farming the estate vineyards at Gloria Ferrer since they were first planted over 25 years ago. So, if anyone knows what to expect from a vintage, it’s Mike. The Carneros vineyards are planted mostly to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the two primary varietals Gloria Ferrer uses in their acclaimed sparkling wines. Grapes from some of the best lots go into a small, showcase collection of still wines.
ON THE 2015 GROWING SEASON:
“This was a very unusual vintage. April 17th was a warm day and it triggered the earliest start to flowering I have ever seen. It was also the longest lasting bloom I have ever seen, 29 days to be exact. The rest of the season required careful attention in the vineyard. Waiting for clusters to completely color up during the sparkling wine harvest demanded patience.”
ON THE 2015 HARVEST:
“It was so early we started picking in July. We harvested through three heat spikes, and avoided a fourth just because we finished so early. After the robust harvests of 2012, 2013 and even 2014 it shouldn’t be surprising to have a smaller harvest than previous years. 2015 yields were about 35% below normal. In the still wine vineyards we saw high sugars after the heat spikes, so we let the clusters rehydrate in cooler weather before picking. In the end, we filled bins with grapes in perfect condition, which was very satisfying.”
ON THE WINES OF 2015:
“I would expect sparkling wines with good, firm acidity and structure. Those kinds of wines are bright and fresh at release, but also age very well. In still wines, our 2015 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay should show a range of flavors with good concentration. But, of course, time will tell.”
