Harvest 2024 is Almost Here
Frank Family’s first pick of the year has been set, and we are teeming with excitement to see what the 2024 vintage will bring! Pinot Noir from our Winery Lake Vineyard in Carneros, destined for Frank Family sparkling wines, will be harvested after dark on Sunday, August 18, just in time to celebrate National Pinot Noir Day! Our Lewis Vineyard fruit is still a couple weeks away from fully maturing as Winemaker Todd Graff keeps a close eye on its levels of sugar, pH, acid, and flavor compounds daily. Be sure to follow us @frankfamilyvineyards for updates in real-time!
Hens and Chicks in the Vineyard
“Hens and chicks,” or millerandage in French, is a viticultural term that refers to grape clusters whose berries range dramatically in size. Thanks to the cool morning fog and afternoon breezes we experience in Carneros, our Pinot Noir bunches do not always grow evenly during their flowering stage. Pollination and fertilization is always a fragile time during the lifecycle of the grape, and nutrient variations and weather challenges can lead to a lack of uniformity in the developing grapes.
However, this lack of uniformity is not always a bad thing. While Hens and Chicks can pose arduous for some grape varieties, Pinot Noir seems to benefit from their presence. The smaller berries have a better skin-to-juice ratio, which gives more flavor to the juice and a greater balance and complexity in the resulting wine.
