Vintage 2026 Report: Defined by Balance

Every great vintage begins long before the first grape is picked 

2026 has been no exception. Favorable winter rainfall replenished soil moisture across Napa Valley, giving our vineyards the foundation they needed heading into spring. That early moisture supported healthy canopy development and helped reduce the water stress that can complicate the season's later stages.

Budbreak arrived in March and the vines moved into flowering during April and May under generally good conditions. Some blocks saw rainfall during bloom, which trimmed cluster counts in certain vineyards. It is a familiar trade-off in Napa Valley: a touch less fruit in exchange for the concentration and character that lighter yields so often bring.

By June, most of our blocks had reached bunch closure, and the canopies remained healthy throughout. We saw only minor sun damage and kept irrigation to a minimum, as low stress conditions allowed the vines to settle into a steady rhythm. It was the kind of quiet, uneventful stretch that winemakers value most, since the fruit is allowed room to develop on its own terms rather than in reaction to the weather.

This season's signals point toward a vintage worth watching.

Healthy canopies, an orderly maturity progression, and slightly lighter yields all suggest strong flavor concentration in the finished wines. Just as important, the growing season has unfolded without the heat spikes or environmental disruptions that can force an early or hurried harvest, allowing us to pick each vineyard on its own timeline. As always, Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and the team will let each vineyard tell them when it is ready.

If conditions hold, harvest will begin shortly after Labor Day. The focus will shift gradually to To Kalon Vineyard during the second week of September, with harvest wrapping up before the start of October.