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Virtual Vineyard

These grapes are frozen - in suspended animation - from previous harvest seasons. Brix, TA, and pH are known for all varietals with full juice panels available for many. You know what you are getting with frozen grapes. Make the wine you want, anytime you want!

2009 Grape Futures

These grapes are from the 2009 Vintage and have not yet been harvested. They are still on the vine when you purchase. Grapes purchased from the 2009 Harvest can be picked up fresh (at our processing sites in California or Washington) or can be frozen and shipped to you.

July 1st 2009

Harvest News : Early Grape Views

The past winter was kind to the grape vines in California and the Pacific Northwest. The buds of our future vintage survived in good condition. They broke through their fuzzy cover on time in California and about 10 days late in the Pacific Northwest. The new shoots arrival was greeted with nourishing moisture. California is suffering from a multiple year shortage of water. This spring there appeared just enough rain to fill most of the irrigation ponds and allow survival for the unirrigated vines. This survival level of water was complimented by further moisture as the grape shoots emerged. The rain was quite timely. It allowed needed nutrients to be made available to the vines' roots. This in turn stimulated every bud and sucker to grow.
Carneros Chardonnay on June 13th 2009 - The Birth of Vintage 2009

The Pacific Northwest experienced a surplus of moisture this winter and early spring. From Washington State through California the vines exploded. In a year where growers are attempting to curtail expenditures, the vines are requiring an extraordinary amount of hand labor. Usually vines will have about 5 shoots per foot of cane. This year there were more than 30 shoots vying to fill the trellis.
White Salmon Pinot Noir before suckering. White Salmon Pinot Noir after suckering.

In Napa, Sonoma and parts of Mendocino County the grape flowers are blooming into baby grapes. The average size of the flowers is a little on the large size, bidding for a heavier bunch weight. Most vines I have inspected have two solid clusters (flowers or bunches) per shoot. This is average. The stage is set in California for a good year with yields probably better than last year.
One flower cluster per shoot on White Salmon Pinot Noir bids for a light crop with intensity.

Around the Columbia River in Oregon And Washington the vines are a little stingy with their flowers - most have yet to bloom/set grapes. The White Salmon Pinot Noir, after serious suckering, has little more than 1.5 potential bunches per shoot. With good flowering this will bring a smaller, more intense crop than last year. The White Salmon Chardonnay and other varietals appear to be more normal with two flower sets per shoot.

Brehm's Virtual Vineyard: Spotlight on Suscol Ranch Merlot

One of the finest merlots I have ever worked came from the Chardonnay Golf Course along Jamieson Canyon west of Napa's Carneros region. It's last hurrah from 2008 is now part of our Virtual Vineyard. Extremely low yields often caused by shatter (fruiting flowers not turning into grapes) has prompted the pulling of the vineyars and their replacement with Chardonnay. Another super quality grape, the Garvey Family Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon combined with the Suscol Ranch Merlot would make an extremely outstanding Napa Valley Wine.

The 2009 vintage is on the vine.