Greeting from Hossfeld Vineyards!
It is October in the Napa Valley and the grapes are reaching their full maturity. It has been a milder summer than last year, with temperatures not escalating over the mid-nineties. This has led to a longer, more stable growing season that is expected to continue into October. We are preparing for harvest, optimistic that 2018 will be an excellent vintage.
Our vineyard continues to provide world-class wine grapes to the best wineries in the Napa Valley while we replant the sections that did not survive the Atlas fire.
On Sunday, October 8th, 2017 we were disturbed from our sleep by the howling wind and to find the eastern hillside ablaze. We were able to escape with our lives and our animals, but sadly the majority of the vineyard and the structures perished. As if the fire was not bad enough, the timing was worse, as it was the day before we were to harvest the entire vineyard. Burned vines are terrible to see, but when they have burned fruit on them as well, it is doubly painful.
As fires continue to rage throughout California and the west, our hearts go out to those that are suffering in 2018.
While we are conscious of the trauma that the vineyard has suffered, the best remedy is to look to the future and continue our efforts to renew. We have been pulling dead vines from our steep terraces and have begun the replanting process. It is sad to see old vines go, but as the terraces grow anew, we can look forward to a rebirth of the Hossfeld Vineyard.
The Hossfeld family would like to thank you for your support in this difficult time. Growing grapes and making wine is a laborious process and the support you have shown helps us continue.
While the Hossfeld family has its roots in grapegrowing, we have been making wine throughout the years as well. We have been working on our family label and are very excited to share it with you upon release! The extreme hillsides provide amazing views and amazing wines and we are enthusiastic to share them with you in the future. Check out our Instagram account hossfeldvineyards and our website at hossfeldvineyards.com.
We will keep you informed as we progress through the seasons!
Thank you again for your kindness.
Sincerely,
The Hossfeld Family