Harvest is here, and we are officially in crush season. The winery is now in full harvest mode, with grapes arriving, crush equipment running, and our team turning its full attention to the 2026 vintage.

Harvest is both exhilarating and demanding. Once the grapes start coming in, the work continues six or seven days a week for the next two to three months. After all, yeast doesn't take weekends off. For our families, this means we all but disappear, becoming cellar hermits as nearly every waking hour is devoted to the vintage.

For winemakers, this is the moment everything has been building toward. The decisions we make during fermentation and maceration will shape each wine for years to come, and every lot gives us just one opportunity to get it right.

It's intense, exhausting, and exhilarating, but it's also the most exciting and rewarding time of the year. Crush is on, and the 2026 vintage is officially underway.

Alder Springs Vineyard — Mendocino, California

Located in Mendocino County, about 150 miles north of San Francisco and just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, Alder Springs Vineyard was founded by Stuart Bewley in 1993. Over the years, Bewley carefully matched grape varieties, clones, and rootstocks to the unique soils across the property, creating more than 350 distinct vineyard combinations that have made Alder Springs a favorite among winemakers.

Its high elevation and strong coastal influence create warm days and cool nights, preserving the grapes' natural acidity and balance. Combined with dense vine plantings and yields that are typically half the industry average, the result is fruit with exceptional concentration, structure, and freshness.

Syrah's origins were confirmed in 1999 through DNA research conducted at UC Davis, tracing the grape to France's Northern Rhône Valley around Tain-l'Hermitage. The variety is remarkably expressive: in cooler climates it produces structured, full-bodied wines with vibrant acidity and firm tannins, while warmer regions yield richer, softer, more fruit-forward styles.

Alder Springs' high elevation and cool Pacific influence create conditions reminiscent of his hometown, allowing him to craft a style inspired by the Northern Rhône. To further honor that tradition, City Winery co-ferments its Syrah with 10% Viognier, adding lift, floral aromatics, and complexity to the finished wine.