The Executive Director of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, Tomi Arbogast, recently shared with me that "the 2008 harvest in wine country is turning out to be the best harvest we’ve had since 1997. The grape quality is amazing, although yields are down by about 20 percent, but that is statewide."

The quality of the grapes is the winemaker’s blank score. The winemaker at harvest time is likened to a conductor directing with orchestrated intensity, precise timing and, with the desired focus of blending, creating that final note that will resonate in the fine art of wine appreciation.

So many of us take for granted the luxury of choosing our favorite wines, along with the time-honored ceremonial gesture, when opening that fine bottle of wine, to accompany our dinner and our conversation.

And again, when having the pleasure of enjoying a really superb wine, not many of us even take a moment’s thought to the back-wrenching toil of gathering the grapes and/or the use of the top-of-the-art mechanical harvesters, which is a grueling and almost sleepless dedication as the days and weeks of harvesting each particular varietal unfold.

Not only is each winery harvesting massive tons of their own grapes from their own vineyards, some wineries also accommodate large shipments of grapes that are purchased and sourced from individual winegrowers for the winemaker to utilize for a particular blending.

The gentle and speedy handling of the grape harvest is the first of many precise steps of winemaking. The ongoing applications of winemaking then each have a time schedule of their own, depending on each varietal and varietal blending and the educated instincts of the winemaker.

This past week I had an opportunity to visit Temecula Valley Wine Country (TVWC) as the harvest continues. This is definitely not the time to disturb the winemaker for any length of Advertisement

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I was fortunate to have a most cordial conversation with Winemaker Robert Cartwright of Ponte Family Winery and Master Winemaker Jon Mc Pherson at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa. Both winemakers are more than satisfied with this year’s quality of yield.

Cartwright stated that "the quality of the grapes is very good, due to the weather not being too hot, cool nights and the added pleasure of the absence of disease and pressure of pests. The ongoing application of mulches, compost and organic winter nutrients ensures better flowering on the vines, resulting in better fruit."

I did also have the pleasure of meeting Clarise Sciocatti, who is from South Africa and assisting Cartwright as "Harvest Knowledgist."

McPherson stated that he has been harvesting since early August and the fruit is solidly coming in on a nearly daily basis. In addition, he is very pleased with the quality of grapes in spite of a higher-than-average midwinter rainfall and hot spring, as in April temperatures went up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Working with McPherson for many years now at South Coast Winery is Winemaker Javier Flores.

I would like to invite those of you who have not had the pleasure of visiting Ponte Family Winery (www.pontewinery.com) and/or the South Coast Winery Resort and Spa (www.wineresort.com) to look up their Web sites. Experience a delightful intellectual and visual introduction to these two wineries and their award-winning wines, as each reflects their own unique wine country flavor.

The many prestigious award-winning wines sourced from the wineries in the TVWC are too numerous to count. TVWC has truly become of age and is now officially on the must see and visit locations in California.

A special mention must be made of the South Coast Winery Resort & Spa being recognized as Best Winery in California with presentation of the distinguished Golden Bear Award on July 11.

Until next time, as you continue to enjoy our beautiful corner of the world here in Southern California, do take care and enjoy life. CHEERS!