Harvest began at sunrise on September 1st for Inman Family Wines. The first pick was at the Klopp family's Thorn Ridge Ranch. The day was a family affair as Ted's son Emmett Klopp drove one of the tractors on this steep hillside vineyard which is high above the fog line, in an area just south and west of Sebastopol referred to as the Sebastopol Hills. This area is within the new boundaries of the Russian River Valley and the fruit is very distinct, showcasing the luscious fruit that the Russian River Valley is famous for and the great acidity of the Sonoma Coast. Author John Haeger, whose new book on Pacific Pinot is just recently published, wrote and article on the Sebastopol Hills which was recently published in the Wine Section of the San Francisco Chronicle and can be viewed on their site here.

Kathleen Inman filmed the harvest on the lower ranch, although very "home movie". This give you an idea of what its like as the men (and women) rush down the rows with heavy bins of Pinot Noir in the early hours of the morning to ensure the fruit reaches our winery while it is still cool.

This year I wanted to try and keep the fruit cool while it was waiting to be loaded, so I came up with the idea of making muslin squares that fit the shape of the picking bins. I had heard from a friend that they cover the bins in Champagne with wet clothes to act as a sort of natural cooling for the grapes. My mother, an excellent quilter, volunteered to make these squares. Here is one of the bins, which looks as though the grapes have been tucked up for bed!

When others saw these squares at the vineyard and winery they were asking if we could make some for them...a new cottage industry was born.

It was not only a family effort for the Klopps, but also one for the Inmans; since it was Labor Day, both my husband, Simon, and our daughter, Meredith were able to help.

Meredith had helped in the cellar, but this was the first time she helped at crush.

On September 2nd we harvested part of Olivet Grange and all of the fruit we get from Saralee's Vineyard. The remaining fruit was taking in on Friday, September 5th.

With the tallies now in, and it is official, I lost 49.5% of my crop to the spring frost, based on an average of the last two years' yeilds. I have only 2 fermentoers of Olivet Grange and a little bit of Endless Crush rose for 2008. I can only hope that I make the best of what little I have.