I visited about a dozen Napa vineyards yesterday and today. Seeing 20-30% shatter in vineyards that pruned early. I am guessing some recent rains caught various vineyards during flowering? Seeing less shatter with late-pruned vineyards. Also seeing more among the usual shatter-prone Cab clones (4, 6, 30) and less in 169, 685, 7, 8. One very important (and large) vineyard for a large Rutherford winery looked down 66%. Not sure what happened there. Overall, I am guessing tonnage will be down 20%+ overall this vintage, and who knows what more will need to be dropped at Veraison.
For wineries that feel they are over-extended and purchase Cab fruit by the ton, this might be good news. For growers, less so.
I talked to a fella in Anderson Valley yesterday who grows 5 different varieties…not just Pinot, and he reported that they look above average. He wasn’t thrilled as much of it came out of contract after last harvest.
Shatter seems to be the theme of 2026. Things still look super early…from what I’m told, and a light crop ripens faster than a heavier one. As it’s never fun to have a light crop, this is probably just what the industry needs.
