Lompoc, CA (September 12, 2015) – Flying Goat Cellars wrapped up its 2015 harvest on September 4th, the Friday before Labor Day. Winemaker Norm Yost had launched his harvest on July 23, which is also extremely early for Santa Barbara County, even for sparkling wine fruit. In Yost’s 35 years in the industry he has never experienced anything like this. He enjoyed not laboring on Labor Day
This harvest offered tiny clusters with very intense flavors. Yost reports, “The wines are concentrated and already showing vibrant flavors with typicity of their appellations. Our 2015 vintage will be in high demand with scarcity of product!”
Flying Goat’s harvest began with Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir fruit for sparkling wine on July 23 and ended with Riverbench Vineyard Pinot Noir on September 4. Flying Goat continued to source from seven long-term vineyard partners this year: Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills, Sierra Madre, Dierberg and Riverbench in the Santa Maria Valley AVA; Rancho Santa Rosa and Rio Vista in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.
Yost notes that yields are down significantly compared with the past two very abundant harvests. When reflecting over the past five vintages, Yost says there is a significant variance in picking days and yields for each harvest. Now he questions what is the new normal. “We’ve gone from extreme abundance to below what would have been normal five years ago.”
Flying Goat Cellars specializes in vineyard designated Pinots and sparkling wines. Winemaker Norm Yost launched Flying Goat with his 2000 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Hills Vineyard. He launched his sparkling wine label with 2005 Goat Bubbles Rosé. Now he produces five sparklers in the traditional method or méthode champenoise: Rosé, Crémant, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Brut Cuvée. He also produces YNOT, which is a blend of Santa Barbara County Pinot Noirs. Flying Goat’s tasting room is located at 1520 East Chestnut Court in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto. Hours are ThursdayMonday 11am-4pm. Contact Kate Griffith marketing@flyinggoatcellars.com for details.
