(Wines&Vines) - As vines progress through veraison, reports remain positive about the coming 2018 harvest

Napa, Calif.—The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) announced on July 20 that veraison was underway throughout the valley, and winery newsletters, press releases and Instagram accounts are filled with photos of plumping berries beginning to mature and change color. The countdown to harvest is on.

 With that countdown comes a wariness, as fires continue to rage near Redding, Calif., in Mendocino and Lake Counties and the recent smaller fire near Lake Berryessa at Arroyo Grande Drive and Steele Canyon Road in Napa County, which burned about 135 acres, according to CalFire. 

Though there are no immediate fire threats to Napa Valley vineyards and CalFire reports the Napa County fire as 96% contained, Jon Ruel, CEO and former viticulturist for Trefethen Family Vineyards, said that some smoke is visible in the sky above the Oak Knoll estate and toward the east.

 During veraison, grapes are more susceptible to smoke taint: as the fruit matures, the skin gets softer and compounds called volatile phenols found in fire smoke can easily permeate that supple skin, manipulating the molecular compositions, causing what is known as smoke taint.