Napa winemakers harvesting red grapes expect better flavor

RUTHERFORD, Calif. (AP) — Driving north through the Napa Valley before sunrise, portable lights like spaceships illuminate workers in the vineyards. The smell of fermentation and grapes fill the air — the annual wine harvest is underway.
At Quintessa winery, grape picking began under a crescent moon at 4 a.m. Wednesday, with the fruit sorted and dropped into tanks a few hours later for fermentation. Napa is known for its Cabernet and brings in most of its grapes for red wines in earl