Peak Performance: 2024 Harvest Begins

The snip-snip-snip of secateurs. The smell of diesel as tractors ferrying countless lug boxes travel to and from the vineyard. The heady taste of fermenting grapes, practically palatable in the air. In the vineyard, deft hands work with practiced precision, selecting only the most perfect clusters. Laughter and calls in Spanish and English mingle with the rustle of leaves, creating a melody unique to this time of year. This is harvest at Seven Apart – a time when months of meticulous care culminate in a frenzy of activity, each decision crucial in the crafting of our world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

Amidst this whirlwind of activity, early indications suggest that the 2024 vintage may be one for the books. We managed to catch a moment with our winemaker, Morgan Maureze, between his constant shuttling from vine to cellar, to get his insights on what’s shaping up to be an exceptional harvest at Seven Apart.

A Textbook Perfect Season

Summer 2024 was a record-breaking hot summer. Luckily, the weather has cooled enough and given the Golden State an excellent crop. Morgan begins by reflecting on the season’s progression: “Generous winter rains and a fantastic spring set us up for a textbook Napa Valley growing season.” According to him, the summer has been particularly pleasant, with perfect weather – hot days and cool nights – allowing the grapes to develop beautifully through veraison. 

“The first week of September brought a warm spell, with temperatures in the low 100s, which gave our reds the push they needed. It helped ripen most of the fruit on the valley floor to perfection. So far, everything looks incredibly promising.”.

Morgan explains that the vineyards have been spared from excessive heat spikes and cold snaps that often complicate the delicate balance of grape development. This consistent, ideal weather pattern has allowed for steady, even ripening across all varieties, setting the stage for an exceptional vintage.

Of course, while Mother Nature has provided near-perfect conditions this year, the Seven Apart team hasn’t rested on its laurels. Morgan and his team have implemented specific viticultural practices to further enhance the quality of our Cabernet Sauvignon. “We monitored pruning a little closer to ensure better vine balance, as well as fruit thinning to enhance fruit quality and vine health,” he explains.

These practices, combined with the favorable weather conditions, have resulted in smaller berries – a promising sign for producing highly concentrated wines. As Morgan puts it, “Right now things are looking good with smaller berries to hopefully produce higher concentrated wines. The season is not over yet, so things can still change.”

From Valley to Ridge

At Seven Apart, our unique position straddling both high-elevation and valley floor vineyards offers us a unique opportunity during harvest time. Morgan explains the dichotomy: “As there is such a difference in elevation, there is a difference of several weeks in vine physiology growth patterns. Normally it is warmer at our Base Camp vineyard (valley floor) than it is up in the higher elevation site of Stag’s Ridge. So we tend to pick Base Camp first then finish our harvest up on Stags Ridge.”

This staggered harvesting schedule allows our team to give each vineyard block the individualized attention it deserves. It’s a bit of a waiting game for each parcel to reach its peak potential before bringing the fruit in, but it also allows for grapes with different flavor and texture profiles. 

The 2024 harvest is also particularly exciting as it marks a significant milestone for our newly replanted Base Camp vineyard. “I’m already starting to mentally map out the picks from different sections of the block,” shares Morgan. Meanwhile, up at Stags Ridge Vineyard, perched at 1,475 feet above sea level, the older vines continue to showcase their prowess. “I’m excited to see the old vines do what they do best, and that is producing high-quality fruit,” Morgan notes. “What’s particularly intriguing this year is our exploration of the natural sub-blocks within Stags Ridge. We’re identifying areas with subtle soil variations and planning smaller, focused fermentations to really capture those nuanced differences. It’s all about highlighting the unique characteristics of our terroir in the final wine.”

Early Impressions and Future Potential

While it’s still early days, the initial signs are incredibly promising. “The white wines are very pleasant and fermentations smell great,” Morgan shares. “The red grapes just finished veraison a few weeks ago, so it’s still too early to tell, but I’m happy with the berry sizes.”

When asked about how the 2024 vintage might express itself in our four wines – Seven Apart Expedition, Seven Apart Shale, Seven Apart Basalt, and Seven Apart Summit – Morgan emphasizes the need for patience. “It is still very early to tell. The growing season has been great, but once we put the fruit in the fermenters and start the fermentation, that’s when we will see the true potential of the vintage. So patience is key, and hoping for good weather.”

As we look ahead to the completion of the 2024 harvest, there’s a sense of quiet confidence among the Seven Apart team. This harvest represents more than just another vintage. It’s a culmination of years of hard work, a testament to the resilience of our vines, and a promise of the exceptional wines to come. As Morgan and his team work tirelessly to bring in the fruit and guide it through the initial stages of winemaking, we invite you to join us in anticipation of what may be one of Seven Apart’s most extraordinary vintages yet