The annual grape harvest is underway in North East, a couple of weeks earlier than usual.
Spring frosts are expected to mean a smaller crop, although the size of the harvest will vary considerably from farm to farm, depending on the type of grapes and the impact of the frosts.
At Westgate Farms, owner Dave Wagner said, "Last year we had 8.3 tons per acre. This year, we're getting 1.1 tons per acre."
But the good news is the hot summer has boosted the sugar content in area grapes. So while the size of the crop will be down, quality is high.
Mario Mazza of Mazza Winery said, "We're seeing real good quality fruit this year. The warm dry weather has been real beneficial for ripening the fruit. So we anticipate great quality wines coming out of this vintage, both reds and whites."
The harvest is expected to be over 2-3 weeks earlier than usual.
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