The mornings are a little cooler, the vines are heavy with fruit, and there’s that electric buzz in the air that only means one thing—harvest is here. Last night, we officially kicked off the 2025 season at Dutcher Crossing with the first pick from our Dry Creek Valley Estate Vineyard.

Our vineyard team was out before sunrise, snipping clusters of golden Chardonnay destined for two special wines: our Winemakers’ Cellar Chardonnay and the Lady Noir Blanc “Bark Blend No. 2”—a playful passion project named for none other than our four-legged vineyard ambassador, Lady. True to form, Lady was right there in the middle of the action, trotting along the vine rows, greeting the crew, and making sure no one forgot to stop for a pat.

The fruit looked beautiful—bright, clean clusters with perfect ripeness thanks to a warm, steady summer and cool Dry Creek Valley nights. Each bin was filled with care, then whisked away to the winery where the real magic begins.

For us, harvest isn’t just the start of a new vintage—it’s the culmination of a year’s worth of patience, tending, and teamwork. Every grape tells the story of the season, and we can’t wait to see how this first pick shapes into the bottles you’ll be enjoying in the years ahead.

Stay tuned for more harvest updates as the fruit keeps rolling in. The season’s just getting started, and there’s plenty more to share—both from the vineyard and from Lady’s perspective.

Here’s to Harvest 2025—may it be delicious from start to finish.