The quality is excellent, with nice fruit flavors and healthy clusters. Harvest began August 18, about an average start for sparkling wine grapes here.

This year’s weather has been ideal for wine grape development, with very few hot spells and mild, even temperatures. The 2008 vintage could be the best in 10 years.

All of our Estate Chardonnay this year is earmarked for sparkling wine, half for L’Orange and the other half (the highest quality fruit from behind the winery) will be used for a high-end Brut Blancs de Blanc.

Chardonnay from our Sage vineyard is exceptional this year, but is not ready to harvest yet. The slightly cooler temperatures at the 2,300 ft. elevation (1,000 ft. higher than Temecula Valley floor) slows the ripening, and yields fantastic quality and intense flavors. This Sage fruit will be used for our ’08 Reserve Chardonnay, approximately 100 cases. Expected harvest date is 9/16.