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Opus One: 2010 vintage symptomatic of climate change

Published:  20 June, 2011

The winemaker at icon California winery Opus One says the 2010 vintage is symptomatic of climate change happening in Napa Valley.

The winemaker at icon California winery Opus One says the 2010 vintage is symptomatic of climate change happening in Napa Valley.


Winemaker Michael Silacci told Harpers at Vinexpo that hot spells in September, previously unknown in a typical Napa vintage, are becoming more common, and are changing the way winemakers harvest their crops. He said the 2010 harvest was characterised by heat waves on August 25 and September 26, as harvest was underway. In addition, the average annual rainfall of 800mm was up by 400mm to 1200mm.


"In the 1980s we would have a hot spell in the Napa Valley in late June or around July 4, but in 2007, 2008 and 2010 we had hot spells at the beginning of September," said Silacci.


He said the key was "not to panic", adding that you couldn't bring back grapes that had already started to raisin. "Those who rush in get out of balance alcohol and rhubarb character. If you just wait for everything to calm down, it's fine."


To help preserve berry freshness, Opus One began picks between 2am and 6.30am.


Constellation "hands off"

Silacci said the Constellation takeover had proved to be a "blessing in disguise" as it encouraged them to take risks and try new things. He said Constellation has a very "hands-off approach". "If they see something is working, they don't tinker with it," he added.


"It's been a catalyst for change and greater independence," he said.


Constellation took ownership of Robert Mondavi winery in 2004, but it wasn't until a year later that Baroness Philippine de Rothschild reached agreement with the company over continued shared ownership of Opus One. Château Mouton Rothschild winemaker Lucien Sionneau and Robert Mondavi's son Timothy made the partnership's first vintage at the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1979.

Silacci also insisted that the UK remains a very important market for Opus One. "If you're not in the UK, you're not serious."

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