UPDATE: Brassfield Estate Winery has just announced the successful completion of its 2025 harvest, showcasing an outstanding vintage attributed to cooler temperatures in Lake County’s High Valley AVA. The winery reports that conditions this year resulted in higher yields and exceptional fruit quality, making this harvest one of the best in recent years.
Harvesting began in early October and concluded by mid-month, with the winery’s signature Sauvignon Blanc being the first to come off the vines from the High Serenity Ranch. The harvesting process wrapped up with Cabernet Franc from the Valley floor. This year’s yield averaged approximately four tons per acre, slightly higher than in 2024.
According to Jonathan Walters, VP of Vineyard and Winemaking Operations, the standout of the 2025 vintage is the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is demonstrating remarkable color, tannin, and overall promise. “Cabernet is shaping up to be the quality leader of this harvest,” states Walters, highlighting the elegant tannins and bright acidity resulting from the cooler-than-average growing season.
The winery emphasizes that the moderate weather and lack of heat spikes created ideal conditions for grape ripening, which is critical for producing high-quality wines. The already-fermented Sauvignon Blanc has the winemaking team eagerly anticipating bottling, showcasing bright aromatics and minerality that reflect the purity of fruit achieved this year.
“The 2025 vintage is shaping up to be iconic,” says Chris Baker, President of Brassfield Estate Winery. With vineyards located at elevations between 1,800 and 3,000 feet, the estate is known for its unique volcanic terroir, which contributes to the depth and character of its wines.
This successful harvest underscores Brassfield Estate Winery’s commitment to sustainable and precise farming practices, further establishing its reputation as a passionate ambassador of the High Valley AVA. As the winery prepares to share the fruits of this labor with wine enthusiasts, the 2025 vintage is expected to capture the essence of the region’s high-elevation landscape.
With the 2025 harvest now complete, wine lovers and collectors alike should keep an eye out for these exceptional wines. Brassfield Estate Winery invites everyone to experience the distinctive character of this year’s vintage, which promises to deliver a compelling showcase of Northern California’s viticultural excellence.
