2024 Harvest Notes: Heat, Timing, and Hard Decisions

A late-summer heatwave shaped Ojai Mountain's 2024 harvest, pushing temperatures past 100°F and forcing early picks. Grenache Blanc came in first on Labor Day, followed by Tempranillo and Syrah, harvested ahead of schedule to beat the heat. Grenache and Mourvèdre stayed on the vine through the spike and were brought in during early October, just before a second heatwave hit. Two consecutive wet years gave the vines the reserves to handle the stress, and solar-powered cooler boxes helped preserve fruit purity through a demanding season.

2024 by the numbers

Early Harvest & Strategic Picking Decisions

Harvest began early this year, driven by a late-summer heatwave that accelerated ripening. Grenache Blanc came in first, on Labor Day, as it's always the earliest variety to ripen, followed by Tempranillo and Syrah. The vineyard's ocean-moderated climate usually allows for extended hang time, but with temperatures soaring past 100°F, the team made the call to harvest Syrah earlier than planned.

By September 9, Picpoul and Roussanne were picked as well, as the heat pushed sugar levels up rapidly. Grenache and Mourvèdre, meanwhile, were left on the vine despite the heat stress, a deliberate gamble. As leaves began to drop and concern grew that the vines might shut down, the team irrigated strategically to support them. Fresh growth soon followed, a sign the fruit would keep ripening. Both varieties were ultimately harvested in early October, just ahead of a second heatwave.

Navigating a Volatile Growing Season

2024's weather was highly variable: a cool, late spring gave way to a hot, dry summer that culminated in a heatwave testing both fruit and crew. Managing heat during harvest required a delicate balance. For white grapes, excess heat risks bitterness, early oxidation, and reduced juice yield. For reds, rapid sugar accumulation can outpace tannin and phenolic maturity, producing green flavors and lighter color. Heat stress also lowers YAN and malic acid levels, both of which affect fermentation and overall balance.

To manage these risks, the team used sustainable cooling techniques, including solar-powered cooler boxes and smaller picking trays, to prevent premature fermentation and preserve fruit purity and structure.

Two Wet Years Built Resilience

The exceptional rainfall of the two prior seasons, 53.35 inches in 2022–2023 and 34.52 inches in 2023–2024, well above the estate's historical average of roughly 24 inches, gave the vines the reserves needed to withstand 2024's heat. The resulting dense canopy offered natural protection against sunburn and dehydration. That same lush growth raised concerns about mildew pressure, but the vineyard's strong winds and amphitheater-shaped terrain kept disease pressure low without synthetic intervention.

Cluster Size, Yield & Initial Impressions

Syrah clusters came in smaller than usual, with a high skin-to-juice ratio that enhanced color, complexity, and tannin structure. Tempranillo, recovering from a total loss the prior year, delivered a bumper crop. Overall yields ran slightly below average, but the balance of concentration and acidity across the vintage was promising.

Labor and the Cost of a Compressed Window

The combination of a compressed harvest window and extreme heat made 2024 especially demanding. Night temperatures held at 93°F during the heatwave, requiring the crew to work creatively to protect fruit integrity, picking into small trays and transferring fruit immediately to cooler boxes to prevent premature fermentation. It was labor-intensive and left little room for rest.

Sustainability and Regenerative Practices

Several regenerative practices paid off this year. Cover crops helped retain soil moisture and support biodiversity. The estate's bee boxes supported vineyard pollination and produced a batch of honey planned for Wine Club members. Solar-powered cooler boxes reduced reliance on generators, a step forward in the estate's move toward fully sustainable operations.

The Wines

2024 Estate White — 46% Grenache Blanc, 43% Picpoul, 11% Roussanne · 154 cases Harvested September 3, 2024. 13.1% alcohol. Mango, white flower, and peach pit on the nose; lychee, citrus zest, and green pineapple on a taut, focused palate finishing saline, with more tension and brightness than any prior vintage. Vinous, 92 points: "linearity and focus." Wine Advocate, 92 points: "elastic tension and invigorating acidity." Wine Enthusiast, 91 points (Cellar Selection). Wine Spectator, 92 points: "mineral and salty elements provide a mouthwatering finish."

2024 Estate Tempranillo — 100% Tempranillo · 141 cases Harvested September 5, 2024. 13.7% alcohol. Aged 20 months in neutral French oak. Bottled May 1, 2026. This is Ojai Mountain's first standalone Tempranillo bottling, following its earlier role only as a blending component in the Estate Red.

Looking Ahead

2024 brought real challenges, but the depth, richness, and concentration coming through in early cellar work suggest a vintage that will stand out. Every year in the vineyard is a lesson in adaptability, and this harvest reinforced the value of patience and the estate's continued investment in sustainable practice.