And so it begins…

Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2023 Harvest is underway! Just after sunrise on Monday, September 11,  23 tons of Sauvignon Blanc arrived at the winery, officially kicking off the 21st harvest at B Cellars.

The team gathered outside of the production building for the annual “Blessing of the Grapes” ceremony. Associate winemaker Derek Taylor expertly sabered a bottle of sparkling wine and poured some over the newly harvested grapes before filling glasses and following founder Jim Borsack in a toast to the 2023 vintage.

We acquired an additional bladder press over the summer and immediately felt the benefits. Running two presses at the same time literally cuts the processing time in half! All 23 tons were pressed yesterday, giving us our first juice of the 2023 vintage. Sauvignon Blanc is always exciting to make because it is such a short journey from vineyard to bottle. Is it too early to start dreaming of spring?

This was a later start than recent vintages, confirming the trend that has been building all summer. Last year, we finished harvest in the second week of October, and we can say for certain that the 2023 harvest season will last longer. Kirk Venge and our vineyard teams will continue monitoring the vineyards and ordering picks when the grapes reach the perfect conditions. In the words of the great Tom Petty, “The waiting is the hardest part.” And now that the wait is over, we are locked in and ready for the ride.

Harvest is the best time to visit Napa Valley. Give us a call to book your reservation and witness the excitement firsthand. It is a feast for the senses that must be seen/smelled/heard/felt/tasted to be believed!