By Dan Morgan Lee, Owner, Winegrower & Winemaker
Photography by General Studios, NZ

A Vintage That’s Writing Its Own Story

Every vintage tells a different story here in Monterey County’s Santa Lucia Highlands. As we approach the 2025 harvest, I’ve been walking the rows daily and watching carefully as the vineyards transition through veraison. This year has already shown us a few surprises, and I’m excited to share what we’re seeing so far.

Dan Morgan Lee assessing 2025 grape crop at the Double L Vineyard

Credit: General Studios

Early Ripening Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc Leading the Way

The first grapes we expect to bring into the winery are Sauvignon Blanc from a few of our favorite Arroyo Seco vineyards: Cedar Lane, Riverbank, and Forest Canyon. These sites consistently produce fruit with lively aromatics and crisp acidity. Zabala Vineyard, another standout in Arroyo Seco, is just a touch behind them.

For those who love Arroyo Seco Sauvignon Blanc, this vintage is shaping up to deliver brightness and energy — a reflection of the cool coastal influence and the careful farming of our grower partners.

Chardonnay grapes during veraison at the Double L Vinyard, Santa Lucia Highlands

Credit: General Studios

At the Double L Vineyard: Chardonnay Ahead of Pinot Noir

Over at our estate Double L Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, things look a little different than usual. The Chardonnay is ripening ahead of the Pinot Noir which is opposite of what we typically see. It’s a good reminder that farming is always about adapting to the season at hand rather than relying too heavily on past patterns.

Our Double L blocks are moving along nicely, with veraison well underway in both varieties. I expect the Chardonnay to lead the way into the cellar, followed closely by the Pinot Noir.

Weather and Growing Conditions: A Temperate Summer with a Hot Finish

This summer has been notably temperate, with daytime highs cooler than average and nights warmer than usual. That means low diurnal swings, which can actually be a blessing for flavor development. The vines have been steadily building complexity while maintaining excellent natural acidity.

At the end of August, however, we experienced the hottest days of the summer so far. To protect fruit balance and slow ripening, we’ve been drip irrigating at Double L and encouraging our grower partners to do the same. A little extra water at this stage helps prevent sugars from climbing too quickly while letting flavors mature at a natural pace.

Dan Morgan Lee on tractor at the Double L Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands

Credit: General Studios

Looking Ahead: A Mid-September Harvest Start

We anticipate a mid-September start to harvest this year. That’s later than we’ve seen in the last several vintages, but well within the historical norm for the Santa Lucia Highlands. In many ways, it feels like a return to the rhythms of classic Monterey harvest seasons.

The Winery is Ready

Inside the winery, we’ve just finished bottling our 2024 red wines, including single-vineyard and clonal bottlings of Pinot Noir. That means all our tanks are empty, clean, and waiting for the first fruit of 2025. Our team is stronger than ever, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, and we’re ready for whatever this 2025 harvest throws our way.

Double L Vineyard, Upper Field containing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Syrah grapes, Santa Lucia Highlands.

Credit: General Studios

Final Thoughts

Every year is unique, and that’s what makes winegrowing both challenging and deeply rewarding. 2025 is shaping up to be a vintage defined by patience, adaptability, and the complex beauty that comes from farming in Monterey County.

We’ll continue to share updates as harvest gets underway. In the meantime, we invite you to taste past vintages with us, by visiting our Carmel Tasting Room, Taste Morgan and exploring our current releases online.

Cheers,
Dan Morgan Lee
Owner, Winegrower & Winemaker