How climate shapes the identity of a vintage

Climate directly shapes every vintage, making exact repetition impossible. Wine is framed as an expression of place, season, weather and producer rather than a standardised beverage.

Temperature, rainfall, humidity and the duration of seasons can all appear in the finished wine. Warmer-than-normal conditions between flowering and harvest generally bring earlier ripening, more sugar and potentially higher alcohol; cooler years tend toward lower alcohol. Greater sunshine can intensify colour, while pronounced temperature changes between day and night near the end of ripening favour complex yet fine aromas.

A favourable vintage depends on complete grape maturity and harvesting at the appropriate moment. Rather than expecting the same profile every year, Sara values tasting successive vintages to understand how their differing conditions appear in the glass.