As the sun begins to set on the 2024 vintage, we’ve been hard at work—up before sunrise most mornings this summer—with our incredible team of contractors, volunteers, and dear friends. This year’s harvest was our largest ever, and we’ve loved seeing the vineyards come alive with our energy and excitement. Harvest is always a delicate dance with nature, and this year was no different.
This year’s growing season in Temecula presented some challenges, including intense heat later in the season, which sped up the ripening process. There was a brief lull where it seemed like we might get a break, but soon enough, the heat returned for another week, delaying our red varietals’ ripening. But patience paid off and we were able to hand pick beautiful fruit that we’re proud to say is some of the best we’ve ever seen.
This year, we’ve harvested 12 different varietals, translating in to 15 different wines, each one telling its own story of the season. From Chardonnay to Syrah, each grape has been nurtured to its fullest potential. We’ve just concluded our final pick with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon a couple weeks ago, with fermentation complete and our final last pressing the first week of November. We are excited to share with you what this year’s vintage will bring to your glass. The unique combination of Temecula’s terroir and climate, along with the dedication of our winemaker, Mike Wieters and his team, has made this vintage particularly special.
Mike has been at the heart of the action, as he always is, overseeing every detail from the vineyard to the winery. His hands-on approach—whether it’s monitoring the ripeness of each cluster or fine-tuning the winemaking process at each stage of development—ensures that every bottle we produce reflects the care and precision Domaine Chardonnay is known for. He’s the backbone of our winemaking program, and his dedication to crafting exceptional wines is nothing short of inspiring.
Harvest season may be a whirlwind, but it’s also a reminder of why we do what we do. Each cluster of grapes picked, each barrel filled, and each glass poured is a reflection of the labor and love poured into this land we call home. We couldn’t be more grateful for the amazing team and the support of loving customers such as yourselves that make it all possible. We can’t wait to share the fruits of this season with you—our 2024 vintage is going to be something truly special.
More glimpses into the behind-the-scenes work that brings Domaine Chardonnay’s wines to life is on its way, as we follow each grape from vine to bottle; each one telling its own story of the land, the season, and the people who make it all possible.