Autumn Abundance

Autumn is the season of abundance in our farming operation.  Over the past 76 years, since my grandfather started Talley Farms in 1948, that abundance has expanded immensely in both scale and diversity.  This fall we harvested more than a dozen different kinds of vegetables, six varieties of wine grapes, as well as lemons, avocados and three kinds of berries.  It’s fulfilling for everyone who works here to see all of their hard work pay off.

The 2024 wine grape harvest, our 38th since the founding of Talley Vineyards in 1986, was small, and quality appears to be exceptional.  An ideal growing season was capped with perfect weather during the crucial periods of ripening and harvest.  Pinot Noir production was about 30% below average and Chardonnay was down about 20%. Fermentations have filled the cellar with gorgeous aromas of baked brioche and framboise, and, most importantly, have been clean and uneventful.  I have high hopes for the 2024 vintage.  Most of the other crops that we grow have been both high in quality and production, which puts a smile on all of our faces.

Over the next few weeks, we will turn our attention to bottling the majority of wines that we produced in 2023, and I look forward to sharing these charming wines with you in early 2025.

– Brian Talley