On a foggy September 23rd, in the predawn hours, harvest 2019 commenced in Regan Vineyards. After eight full months of hard work in the vineyard, the pickers arrived in the dark with personal head lights and started picking the ripe Pinot Grigio clusters.

Following an above-average winter rainy season, and a very cool, foggy spring and summer-as if on cue-Labor Day weekend arrived and the sun finally came out! In the vineyard this year, we had to be extra vigilant in canopy management trying to keep powdery mildew at bay, as disease pressure was high. As expected, the crop load is lighter this year, following a bumper crop in 2018.

One particular challenge in 2019 was managing pesky weeds after heavy winter rains which continued into the late spring. With our latest sustainable practice of discontinued use of the herbicide Roundup, we were forced to resort to the old fashioned hoe, plus plenty of weed -wacker work. In fact, some areas of the vineyard required three passes with the weed -wacker. Lots of additional labor expenses were incurred. In 2020 we plan to experiment with an organic herbicide for weed control, in addition to better use of the Pinot Grigio just prior to harvest mechanical cultivator.

Regan Vineyards is a “cool climate” site owing to its proximity to the cool waters of the Monterey Bay. Yet, climate change has hit Regan with increasing temperatures, particularly in September.

In 2017 the highest temperatures ever were recorded with the thermometer reaching 113 and 114 degrees at Regan. This September there have been two heat waves, the hottest of which arrived September 24th and 25th with the mercury reaching 97 degrees right at Pinot Noir harvest time. To deal with rising temperatures we have outfitted the workers with headlights so they can start harvesting at 5am and stop by 2pm on hot days.

In late September, the BARGETTO Wine Club department hosted the semi -annual Regan at Regan day. 30 eager wine clubbers, all visiting Regan for the first time, were exposed to a hands -on vineyard experience … including berry sampling (Pinot Grigio), vine training Pre dawn harvesting (Mt Eden Chardonnay … young plants) and crop thinning (Dolcetto).

Questions were flying to host John Bargetto like birds in a ripe vineyard as curious wine clubbers really flashed their inquisitive sides. Lunch and reserve wines were provided in the gazebo at the end of the tour.