October events and harvest update from Pinnacle Ridge

FROM THE VINEYARD: HARVEST 2011

Every year we anxiously await the moment when the harvest starts. We check all our equipment to make sure everything is working. We order yeast and the various supplies we need to get us through the busy  season. We plan to make sure we have enough barrels and tank space and help to get through the busiest season in the winery year. 

When the decision is made to start picking the fruits of our labor its off to the races. This year the harvest started on September 12 with Cayuga for our Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine. Sparkling wine grapes are always the first to be picked. We look for a crisp, less alcoholic wine as the base for sparkling wines. We also picked Chardonnay for sparkling wine. Pinnacle Ridge has not produced a sparkling chardonnay for a number of years. This year we are making the Cuvee again instead of the Brut Rose. Patience! In a couple of years you’ll be able to taste our Cuvee Chardonnay.

Chardonnay for Naked Chardonnay and our barrel-fermented Chardonnay has been harvested as well Riesling, Syrah and Pinot Noir for our Quaff.  We’re fully in the middle of harvest at this point and it will continue for another four weeks or so.

For those of you “tuned” into the local grape scene, you may have noticed that it has rained a bit this year. Grape growers are not very fond of rain during pre-harvest and harvest. Rain can cause a number of issues with grapes, including increased disease pressure, more difficulty in scheduling harvest activities and bloated fruit.

2010 was a really great vintage with hot dry weather throughout most of the harvest period.  However, we face less than ideal conditions pretty regularly. 2009 was an example of a very cool, wet year that ended up
producing some very nice wines.

The good news for the 2011 vintage is that it has been warm. I’m sitting here writing in my living room on September 29 in shorts and t-shirt.  The windows are open and it is warm and muggy. Much like a late August day. The warm weather has kept the acidity in the grapes at a good level and has allowed flavor
development. I think we will get some balanced and very pretty aromatic wines!

PINNACLE RIDGE'S JAZZ IN THE BARN
    
Sunday, October 9 from 3-6 p.m.

Our last live music of the 2011 summer season! Musicians Andy Warren on guitar, Nimrod Speaks on upright bass, Alan Gaumer on drums and Pete Souder on saxophone. They’ll be playing great jazz standards. You can sit and relax with a glass of wine. Light fare will be available for purchase.

LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL'S CHAMBOURCIN WEEKEND

Saturday October, 15 & Sunday, October, 16 - Noon to 5 p.m. both days

Celebrate the harvest of the 2011 Lehigh Valley’s Chambourcin. Pinnacle Ridge will be serving samples of Tender Beef French Dip with our Chambourcin wine reduction au jus. For vegetarians we'll be serving sautéed Vegetable French Dip with Chambourcin wine reduction vegetarian au jus. Pinnacle Ridge 2009 Chambourcin, 2008 Chambourcin Reserve and Sweet Seduction (100% Chambourcin) will be our featured wines.