Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance Continues Tradition to Ring in and Celebrate the 198th Harvest
SONOMA, CA (August 9, 2022) – The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA), a non-profit trade association representing more than 100 wineries and 140 grape growers in the Sonoma Valley, is excited to announce the start of the 2022 wine grape harvest in the Sonoma Valley, with multiple grape picks taking place in both the Los Carneros and Sonoma Valley AVAs (American Viticulture Areas). One of the first to begin, early this morning, was Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards.
“2022 marks the 40th harvest anniversary for Gloria Ferrer since we opened our winery in 1982. Our team is eager to begin harvest to ensure Gloria Ferrer’s 2022 harvest yields vibrant and fresh grapes,” says Harry Hansen, Senior Vice President of Winegrowing & Winemaking, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards.
Gloria Ferrer harvested 20 tons of Pinot Noir this morning for their sparkling wine program. The Gloria Ferrer team shared a sparking toast for a safe harvest season, and ceremonially ‘rang in’ the 2022 Sonoma Valley harvest with SVVGA’s harvest bell on their crush pad.
Longtime Sonoma Valley grape growing family, Sangiacomo Family Vineyards will begin their harvest early tomorrow morning. “Sparkling harvest is just about to begin for us. Yields look to be average to a little below. The vine health looks to be good with the help of a couple of spring rains. We are looking for another exceptional vintage and keeping our fingers crossed the weather holds to get us to the finish line,” says Steve Sangiacomo, third generation grape grower and partner, Sangiacomo Family Vineyards.
2022 marks the Sonoma Valley’s 198th harvest, and to commemorate the beginning of another highly anticipated vintage, SVVGA invites the entire Sonoma Valley community to participate in the traditional valley-wide bell ringing at 11:00 AM on August 17 at the Mission San Francisco Solano.
SVVGA developed this ceremony in 2018 to recognize and celebrate the unprecedented dedication and hard work of Sonoma Valley’s agricultural community, the grape growers, and vintners, as they continue to produce the highest quality winegrapes and wines.
Earlier this July, SVVGA hosted the 3rd Annual Harvest Kickoff Party, where more than 150 vintners, grower members, and community partners gathered at Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery to share in a celebration and toast the Sonoma Valley’s incredible wine and agricultural community. As the tradition goes, an ‘Honorary Bell Ringer’ is named, who exemplifies true commitment, expertise, passion, and heart for agriculture and the industry. This year, longtime partner, and sponsor to SVVGA, American AgCredit, rang the official Harvest Bell honoring the tradition, during the kickoff party. American AgCredit has supported the Sonoma Valley, its grape growers, and producers, and the SVVGA for decades. Special thanks to our American AgCredit for their role in supporting the 2022 Sonoma Valley. Harvest Kickoff.
About the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance
SVVGA is comprised of hundreds of member wineries and grape growers, as well as associate members, who work together to promote awareness of the Sonoma Valley and its extraordinary wines and grapes, its incomparable climate, and its richly diverse terrain and terroir. Its mission is not only to foster collaboration among Sonoma Valley’s wine industry, but to protect and preserve its winemaking legacy and agricultural heritage. SVVGA supports its members and wine region through advocacy, marketing, and education.
Visit www.SonomaValleyWine.com for more information.
