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"HURRYUPANDWAIT"AND"QUAL-


ITY over quantity" best described de- scribed this year's wine harvest in the Sierra foothills. A wet spring and cool summer slowed


down the harvest to well beyond Septem- ber for many wineries—one of the latest in memory. "In agriculture, you take it as it comes," says LynnWilson, co-owner and winemaker at Pilot Peak Winery in Penn Valley. A late May frost also reduced the har-


vest for some winemakers, adds Christine Smith of Smith Vineyard in Grass Valley. But for us wine drinkers—you know,


Gary Smith of Smith Vineyard


the ones that count—there was a bright spot to what Mother Nature wrought on the wineries: The longer hang-time was good for the complexity of the fruit. "The quality is going to be very good,"


saysMike Naggiar, owner of Naggiar Vine- yards in Grass Valley. Winemakers in Placer County agree.


"We're very happy with the quality of the fruit," says Stewart Perry, president of the Placer County Vintners Association. MotherNature's unpredictableweather


could be a blessing in disguise: With the sluggish economy, you're better off with continued on page 28


Nighttime wine harvest at Naggiar Vineyards


151-AMill St., Grass Valley 530.205.9513 www.GVWineCo.com


ComplimentaryWineTasting & Sales Wed.-Sun. 12 noon-5:30 pm, ClosedMon. andTues. Open Evenings for wine sales by the glass, flight or bottle, Fri. & Sat. 5:30-8:30pm


FoodWineArt 25 |


DAN SENKBEIL


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