September | Wine of the Month: 2021 Laurel Glen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon | National Cabernet Day • Labor Day
September is one of the most exciting times to visit Sonoma wine country.
Sonoma Valley is alive with anticipation and every day brings new decisions about when the grapes are ready to become wine. While visitors often see the frantic activity in the vineyard and on the crushpad, there’s an incredible amount happening behind the scenes that most people never witness.
Here’s a look at what makes harvest our most important time of year.
Harvest Starts Before Dawn
When harvest begins, the day starts long before the sun rises.
Cool morning temperatures help preserve the fruit’s freshness, so vineyard crews pick grape clusters while the air is still cool. Timing is everything, and thus each vineyard block is harvested when the fruit reaches its ideal balance of ripeness, acidity and flavor.
It’s an annual event built on teamwork, precision, and experience.
Every Vineyard Has Its Own Story
Every vineyard ripens differently based on elevation, sun exposure, soils, and weather throughout the growing season. On Sonoma Mountain, coastal breezes and a northeastern exposure allow Cabernet Sauvignon to mature slowly, developing complexity while maintaining freshness and natural acidity.
Those characteristics are part of what make Sonoma Mountain Cabernet so distinctive.
From Vineyard to Winery
Once the grapes arrive at the winery, the sorting begins! Every cluster is sorted before the fruit is carefully de-stemmed and sorted sorted once again. Only the highest-quality fruit moves past the sorting table, ensuring the character of the vineyard and the vintage.
Although visitors often imagine harvest ending once the grapes are picked, in many ways it’s only the beginning. After sorting comes fermentation, aging, blending, bottling and aging once again before the wine is finally ready to leave the winery.
The Story Inside Every Bottle
Our Wine of the Month, the 2021 Laurel Glen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, represents years of care and attention—in the vineyard and in the cellar. Careful vineyard management and organic farming practices led to harvest timing and careful aging.
Every bottle tells the story of a growing season that can never be repeated. That’s one of the things we love most about wine: each vintage captures a unique moment in time.
Celebrate Cabernet Season
September also brings National Cabernet Day (September 3), making it the perfect opportunity to experience one of California’s most celebrated grape varieties from a region where it truly shines.
Combined with Labor Day weekend, it’s also one of the most exciting times to visit wine country. Vineyards and wineries are buzzing with activity and restaurants are showcasing our incredible seasonal bounty of produce.
Planning a Sonoma Wine Tasting?
If you’ve ever wanted to experience wine country during harvest, September is an unforgettable time to visit Laurel Glen Vineyard.
Located in Glen Ellen, our tasting room offers an intimate opportunity to explore estate-grown Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon while learning about the vineyard, the harvest, and the history behind every bottle.
Visit us at 13750 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, daily from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Reservations are appreciated, and walk-ins are welcome when availability allows.
There’s nothing quite like tasting Cabernet while the next vintage is being harvested just beyond the tasting room. We hope you’ll join us this harvest season and experience it for yourself.