Grape harvest has arrived in the vineyards of both Cucamonga and Temecula, prompting winemakers to roll up their sleeves and get back in their cellars. Today, I bring you the real juice on the 2014 vintage.
Vintners Don Galleano of Galleano Winery in Mira Loma and Joseph “J.P.” Filippi of J. Filippi Winery in Rancho Cucamonga reported that harvest came exceptionally early with excellent grape quality for hopes of delicious releases on the horizon.
Galleano shared that the typical long growing season and healthy yields were altered by a warm spring and late April winds along the foothills.
“Even with some drought conditions, fruit quality is outstanding, but the tonnage is down approximately 50 percent from 2013 throughout the valley,” said Galleano.
Early harvest
Filippi said that the Grenache harvest began July 26, “the earliest start date on our records. Already we have Syrah, Alicante (Bouschet) and Zinfandel in the barn; Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon next week.”
In nearby Temecula, winemakers began weeks ahead as well.
“This is certainly the earliest harvest that I have seen in my career, but quality has been very good, and I feel that the warm winter and warm spring just accelerated vine growth and ripening to the point where we are 18 to 20 days ahead of schedule,” said Brenda Ruocco, director of wholesale operations at South Coast Winery. “Lack of winter rain has just compounded the (drought) problem. Yields have been normal. I think that next year the vines will show the strain of this year,” said Ruocco.
Domenic Galleano, co-winemaker at Galleano Winery and son of Don, gave me a tour through the historic Lopez Ranch Vineyard (LRV) while workers picked the flavorful small clusters of sweet Zinfandel. Galleano Winery has farmed the mature “head trained” nonirrigated vines at LRV, located in the foothills of Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana along Interstate 15, for nearly two decades. LRV was first planted for table grapes (preseedless) in 1922.
LRV ripens Zinfandel grapes like no other in all of our state. It is sought by many wineries and highly valued at nearly $1,900 per ton on the open wine market.
“We take great pride in this vineyard. The wine from this fruit can be made in a minimalist way, delivering high quality, fruit forward, jammy style vintages that are greatly appreciated,” said Dominic.
“The finished wine offers neutral tannins and favorable structure. It is a very approachable wine, which my father explains as being most appealing to many — produced in the Italian style, to be enjoyed with the meal.”
Wine enthusiast and photographer Steve Amaon of Temecula has been a fan of LRV for over a decade.
“The ranch is my link to the history of wine making in the historic Cucamonga Valley. Its flavors are rich but smooth, and the nose is nothing to sneeze at (pun intended). I constantly sample Zins wherever I go, but I have yet to find one I like more than LRV.”
Dominic is appreciative for this year’s crop and said that harvest will continue for Zinfandel, Grenache and Mission at Hofer Ranch Ontario over the next couple weeks.
“Hopefully the winter ahead will bring more rain for the vines. We are praying for an El Niño ahead.”
— Gino L. Filippi is a fourth-generation Cucamonga Valley Vintner.
He can be reached at Ginoffvine@aol.com
