From October 2006 through early October 2007, we were immersed in planning and constructing out current facility at Zenith Vineyard. Those of you who have built a home have some idea of how difficult, challenging, and stressful that process can be. Then imagine the budget is 10 times larger and the finish date is absolute. The grapes will be ripe and must be picked. This was one of the biggest projects in Polk County and it was being done 'by the book'. As if we needed to add another layer of stress.
In the end, out contractor, CD Redding, managed to get us an 'Occupancy Permit' on October 2rd, executing the impossible calmly and with good humor throughout. I can not thank them enough. The mad rush commenced to set up equipment (thank God they let us move all out tanks, presses, and empty barrels in advance). Two days later we picked out first fruit, young vine Pinot noir from Freedom Hill Vineyard. We were only in the most elemental way prepared and work on the barrel room, tank cooling piping and refrigeration continued throughout what was to be our largest harvest.
The construction and process of moving was exhausting enough. However when we managed to finally complete the harvest work, we then had to return to our old facility and move 276 full barrels, two-by-two to our new facility and give them a cool, humid home in our new underground barrel room. We were done just before Thanksgiving and were thankful.
2007 was one of the more challenging harvests in the past decade. The season began early with sunny and dry weather in May and June. Bloom was about a week earlier than normal indicating that we would expect to begin picking in late September. The crop level was thinned significantly in late July targeting yields of between 2.1 and 2.7 tons per acre for Pinot noir.
September was cooler than normal and the cool weather continued into October. Intermittent rains slowed maturity and increased the risk of rot. Sunny periods between the rain events allowed the critical process of ripening and flavor development to continue. The tension mounted as waited and prayed for sun watching the acids soften, the tannin sweeten, and the flavors gain complexity. The first grapes were finally picked on October 4th, ten days later than expected. By October 15th, all of the fruit was picked, making 2007 our shortest harvest. The extended hang time produced exceptional white wines and complex, layered Pinot noirs.