While Flora Springs was fortunate to escape damage due to the Napa earthquake on August 24th, there are many in the area who did not fare as well and are in need of the most basic items.
The Flora Springs family wants to help the Napa Valley community with post-earthquake relief. We have learned that The Napa Food Bank is very low on food, and expects an influx of people over the next few days.
Our tasting room, located in Saint Helena, is now a drop-off location for donations to the Napa Valley Food Bank.
The bank is in need of non-perishable foods—especially tomato products, canned fruit, and canned protein such as tuna, chicken etc., other households supplies, and monetary donations.
Upvalley residents and visitors can drop off donations at The Room, located at 677 S. St Helena Highway (Hwy 29), daily from 10 am – 5 pm.
Also, through Labor Day weekend, the Komes and Garvey families are donating all The Room wine tasting fees to the Food Bank. Stop in for a sip and support your neighbors.
If you prefer to make a donation directly, the Food Bank is located at 1766 Industrial Way in Napa and is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 am – 3:00 pm. If you are outside of the area, you can help too. Donate online.
Should you or someone you know need assistance, check here for food distribution times and locations. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
“This past weekend’s events ensured that the 2014 vintage will be especially memorable. I hope that in five years when I open a bottle of 2014 Oakville wine, I appreciate the wine for its merits and not dwell on the images of broken glass that jump to mind. All in all, the earthquake was more damaging to the 2013 vintage, whether in barrel or recently bottled. The vast majority of 2014 fruit is safe on the vine. That said, we continue to pick some really beautiful sauvignon blanc in Oakville. The mild weather is giving flavors and tannins (for red varieties) time to mature without sugars getting out of balance.”
“This week we began our harvest with Oakville sauvignon blanc. We are slightly ahead of where we were last year at this time and about 10 days ahead of average, if there is such a thing in farming. Other varieties are starting to sweeten up as well. Sauvignon blanc is typically the first still wine variety off the vine, but I have heard reports of some Oakville ranches picking their earliest merlot this week as well.”
“We have harvested grapes from our Oakville Crossroads Vineyard, Block H1 (Soliloquy Clone) into 1/2 ton picking bins – ready to go into press to be ‘whole cluster pressed’.”
“Grapes have turned from a fluorescent green to yellow/gold – Indicating that harvest is just around the corner – Flavors are terrific – With this nice mid 80’s temperature, we should develop more flavor as well as lower the acid. These will be the first grapes we pick.”
Sauvignon Blanc in Oakville “Soliloquy” Clone
“Many people may be surprised to realize that Pinot Grigio actually looks more like a red grape than a white grape – It’s actually more brown in color. These grapes are also in Oakville, and will be harvested just after the Sauvignon Blanc.”
Pinot Grigio in Oakville
“Some of our southern vineyards in the Carneros region of Napa are more prone to bird damage – You will see here, some netting that protects the fruit zone from the birds – We like our grapes, and I guess the birds do as well. While this protects the fruit, it requires much more effort to conduct work in the vineyard. Each time work needs to be conducted –Whether it be leafing, thinning fruit etc….The netting must be raised throughout the vineyard to access the fruit zone.”
— Winemaker Paul Steinauer
Our southern vineyards in the Carneros region of Napa
“Oakville sauvignon blanc is getting sweeter by the day. Winemaker Paul Steinhauer…plans on harvesting some Oakville SB this month, if not this week. We also have a block of what might be the only pinot grigio in Oakville and it is also very near to ready. The pleasantly warm weather continues to be ideal for grape ripening. Things are shaping up nicely for a great harvest season.”
“Oakville is currently pretty quiet, although the grapes are ripening at a furious pace, or at least that’s how it feels. Oakville sauvignon blanc will be picked first, and it should be early. We could start picking the week of Aug. 14, as early as we ever have, if not earlier. Overall, yields look good, for all varieties: not high nor low. Vines naturally set just about the right amount of fruit. Quality looks great.”
