2021 Amity Vineyards Estate Riesling

Golden Raspberry, Lemon Curd, Honeysuckle

The 2021 growing season began with a relatively mild winter followed by a spring that yielded near-average rainfall punctuated by a spell of early season warmth in mid-April. This burst of sunshine lead to buds bursting one to two weeks earlier than average. Then came a peak of unseasonably hot days in early May, a valley of cool toward the end of the month, and another bump of heat in early June. After these temperature swings, much of the state experienced a late rain event right around bloom, contributing to another vintage of what turned out to be below-average yields (though certainly an improvement over the record low yields of 2020). Late June brought the most memorable weather event of the vintage in the form of a “heat dome” over the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia breaking records for three straight 100+ degree days. This unprecedented heat came at a time that ultimately did not significantly affect established vineyards, though it did result in young vine losses for those who were either unlucky or unprepared.

For much of the growing season temperatures were above average, with the distinct and ideal turn of temperatures cooling off during the harvest season of August-October, allowing the moderate crop to comfortably achieve complex fresh fruit restrained and focused by retained acidity.