caption needed 2013, making Peter Mondavi’s 99th year one worth celebrating. Like other wineries in Napa Valley, Krug had a great 2012 harvest. “It was an exceptional year, especially coming off two lackluster years (2010 and 2011). We harvested great quantities of exceptional quality. We haven’t seen color like this in ages,” says Peter Mondavi, Jr. He adds, “So far 2013 looks good, though there’s still consumer uncertainty about the economy. That’s the wild card.” Mondavi says that sales are going well, perhaps better than they should considering the weak inventory of prime Napa Valley Cabernet. Because of the shortage, Krug increased prices on the Napa Valley Cab, and he knows that may constrain growth. “We believe it’s justified by improved quality due to our heavy investment in vineyards and winemaking,” he added. The growth of the winery’s 2012 Sauvignon Blanc may help buffer the shortage, for it’s available now and, at $17, is more affordable. Chardonnay from 2012 will be available in a few months, too. Krug has been paring the number of wines it makes to focus on the best, which improves results. Also, the company is now supplying ninety percent of its grapes from its own vineyards, and should become a 100-percent estate winery in not long. Dario Sattui owns both V. Sattui Winery and Castello di Amorosa winery, two top attractions in Napa Valley. He says that both wineries experienced continued steady growth in 2012 at higher price points, and he expects more In 2012, the weather conditions were almost perfect for high quality grapes, and the crop was unexpectedly bountiful as well. of the same in 2013. “Further, we had a bumper crop of excellent quality. Fortunately we had bought new stainless steel fermenters and holding tanks, and we filled every last one.” Bruce Ahnfeldt of Ahnfeldt wines and Uncorked at Oxbow notes that 2012 was a great growing year. “If we had had any wish, it would have been a bit warmer, but it didn’t have heat spikes and other problems.” Ahnfeldt’s crop came in larger than the last three years, and sales were up due to the improving economy. He expects it to continue in 2013. Bruce Cakebread of Cakebread Winery is also buoyant. “I am very positive about 2013 and Napa Valley wines because we have the ingredients for a special year, lots of great wine from the 2012 vintage, early rains to start the winter season and the Giants could win another World Series!” For Cakebread, 2013 has another attraction: It will be its 40th anniversary, and the winery plans suitable celebrations. Honig Winery’s Michael Honig says, “2012 was our best year ever!” and that was following a great year in 2011, too. “We joke that we’re a thirty-year overnight success story,” he says. Honig attributes the winery’s success to high quality, being family owned, sustainable—and especially to focus. “We only make Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc,” he points out. That’s all Kristen (winemaker Kristen Bellaire) has to worry about; she doesn’t have to deal with Pinot Noir or Zinfandel or something else. For a few months, we’re a white-wine winery when the Sauvignon Blanc comes in; then we’re a red-wine winery.” One of his biggest frustrations now is that the winery is short of Cabernet caption needed due to the last few weak years. On the other hand, Honig is very excited J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3 23
NVLife Jan-Feb 2013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above