Typically, for my June wine club article, I often write how we are in the thick of the summer season in the vineyard, winery, and our busy tasting rooms. I cannot do that this year. Having been raised in Sonoma Valley, I know June is always welcomed with warm to hot summertime daytime and nighttime temperatures, or as I recall, as soon as school was let out for the year (in early June). This year, however, after one of our wettest winters on record, it seems that summer has still yet to arrive. What was offered instead was a perennial “June Gloom,” a mix of unsettled weather and cool, mild days. Granted, at the time of the writing of this article Summer Solstice hasn’t passed nor has the official start of summer commenced, there is some good news for what this “gloom” means to future Roche Wines.

There has always been a tug-and-war scenario between grape growers and winemakers about something in the industry we call “hang-time”. This is the period of time between when a grape cluster is formed in late spring and when it is harvested in the fall. Grape growers prefer a short hang-time because they want to avoid any early season or late season weather or temperature surprises that might affect the quality of grapes or tons harvested. Winemakers instead prefer a prolonged hang time, allowing the vines and their fruit to take time adding additional flavor and profiles. Luckily for Roche Winery, we are both grape growers and winemakers, and we have the flexibility to find the perfect hang time every year.

This year, with our gloomy June, it looks as though we and the rest of Sonoma Carneros are about 2 weeks behind our average fruit set and ripening in the vineyard. This means we are looking at a later harvest and potentially a prolonged hang-time. As long as the summer of 2023 continues its rather mild streak (with expected typical periodic heat waves) we are looking at growing year that will capitalize on this hang time and provide flavors potentially unseen in our most recent warm-weather drought years.

Despite all this talk of gloom, there is a lot to get excited about with this club: the release of our first ever combo of El Nino Red Blend and La Nina White Blend. Already famous with our customers this most recent El Nino Vino will not disappoint, and the La Nina Vino will provide the crisp and delicious alternative to enjoy pre-meal or with appetizers or fish. I have always enjoyed our El Nino, because it is a blend of varietals, aromas and flavors that our winemakers pick as their favorite, and Michael and Andrew have done it again with our first ever white blend at Roche Winery. I can guarantee there will be no gloom once one of these bottles are popped open and you have it in a glass to enjoy!