Harvest of history, as Nascent makes its Mark

Buongiorno ~

We have just concluded one of our most successful harvests, undeniably portraying winegrowing to be a collaboration, in which we divide control with the elements. As much as anyone else in the world of viticulture, we have developed our planting sites with a keen eye to their exposure, from the points of view of elevation, direction, and even de-exposure — drainage. A broad experience of nearly 200 seasons here – 50 Springs and Summers, 49 Falls and Winters, so far – has fortified our readiness for how erratic this region’s weather can be, in the critical opening and closing months of the grape growing cycle.

In some years, we have seen ourselves driven to extraordinary rescue missions — of crop reduction, irrigation, emergency harvesting — to salvage from time to time even our most successful vintages. But this year we faced the possibility of a lack of ripening in our later developing varietals, for which no correction lay in our hands.

We have never been more vividly reminded of ripening factors we cannot supply, when the delayed emergence of one of them in this vintage finally spelled the difference between regrettable mediocrity and positively thrilling success. As we said about the 1998 vintage, one of the finest in our history, the marvel of 2025 depended on our being ready for it — the arrival of constant weeks of temperate sunshine.

Budbreak began late March, ahead of two nights of severe frost, perfectly fended off by our windmills, heaters, and one helicopter, resulting in only minimal plant damage. Bloom began May 10th, and continued mainly through dry conditions. However, from early June up to mid-August, we experienced rains every week, with early morning dew creating high pressure of downy mildew. In these weeks, damping down hopes for an unnerving length of time, we performed 6 hedgings, 2 sets of leaf removals, and aggressive cluster reductions by green harvesting, to save what we could for the arrival of some – any – fair weather.

Early varietals such as Moscato and Sauvignon Blanc were successfully picked between rains from 15th to 18th August. Still we faced the possibility of unripeness in later-arriving varietals, with any correction out of our hands.

None of us will forget that third week in August, when true seasonal warmth, clear skies, and restored dryness came to us for the first sustained days since early June. Spectacular ripening conditions prevailed through almost all of September, and our harvest of later ripening varietals concluded on the 26th with Cabernet Sauvignon, just ahead of some rains.

Placing this harvest in perspective, so variable is our regional weather, that only twice before in our history have we seen 3 benchmark vintages in a row — 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2005, 2006, 2007. Such vintage triads of the rarest good fortune are obviously extremely progressive in what they allow us to achieve in vineyard expansions, technical enhancements, and varietal improvements. Now 2023, 2024, and 2025 literally swamp our cellar with wines of extraordinary excellence and longevity. I have participated in all three of these truly momentous intervals, and I can promise you that what I see is not merely the value of what’s here, but the even greater rewards to come.

I’m happy to report that a welcome validation of this confidence was published just last month, for already the second time, as one of our wines was named by JamesSuckling.com among the Top 100 Wines in America. Octagon 2016 won that distinction in 2018, which was the birth year of Nascent, and now this rank has been claimed by Nascent 2020 — our equal in white wine blending, to Octagon in red — awarded 94 Points from JamesSuckling.com, reported in my September Note. (Details of Nascent’s creation are presented here).

Nascent 2018 was designated Best White Wine, with 96 Points and the Platinum Medal at the 2023 Sommelier Challenge in California, as “one of the best white wines from anywhere, and Nascent 2019 followed with the Gold Medal of the Virginia Governor’s Cup. Nascent was developed to embody our highest aspirations for our vineyard, and 2025 was certainly a Nascent Harvest for the record books.

All through this Fall, Palladio Restaurant’s ravishing seasonal menu is featuring beautiful presentations of the freshest catch, for which Nascent furnishes a truly fulfilling pairing. Here, a cold-smoked Coho Salmon is arrayed with roasted baby beets, fresh feta, pickled fennel, baby arugula, and oregano, in a vinaigrette of toasted walnuts and champagne.

Expect, certainly, to see a handsome plating of fresh Chesapeake Rockfish, such as I met on a recent holiday. And remember, any dish which enjoys pairing with Vermentino or Viognier, is flattered beyond words by Nascent, their ultimate expression in bottle.

Please take time to enjoy a visit with us, more than once in this radiant season, whether here or with the treasures of your cellar. We stand by to replenish your favorites, with wonderful renewals.

Cordialmente ~

Luca Paschina Winemaker