The Wine Knows - harvest

Frost expected this weekend in Columbia Valley

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:20:38 -0400

The first widespread frost of the season is expected this weekend, according to weather forecasts. Saturday's low temperature is predicted to drop below 30.

Frosts can toast leaves on vines in low-lying areas. If leaves can no longer capture sunlight, then it's really, really difficult for grapes to continue to accumulate sugar and flavor development.

Ripeness no problem in Columbia Valley vineyards

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:34:46 -0400

This morning, I caught up with Gino Cuneo of Tre Nova as he was checking on grapes at famed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Washington's Red Mountain. There, Cuneo and owner Jim Holmes have planted a number of Sangiovese clones, which the Carlton, Ore., winemaker uses in his various Italian-style wines.

Day in the vineyard

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:49:04 -0400

It has been a busy late summer and fall, and have spent entirely too little time walking vineyards. Part of that, I think, has been the lateness (actually normalness) of the vintage.

So this morning, I headed into Washington's Horse Heaven Hills with Wade Wolfe, owner/winemaker for Thurston Wolfe in Prosser. He was checking grapes and picking samples at three vineyards that I'd never been to, so I was happy to tag along.

Gorgeous autumn weather

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:59:05 -0400

Cooler temperatures last week turned into beautifully warm days this weekend. No doubt those who came to the Columbia Valley for Catch the Crush enjoyed the cloudless skies and 80-plus degree weather.

Columbia Valley summer ends with whimper

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:21:21 -0400

Autumn begins today - officially - but it arrived a couple of days early when a rainy Saturday greeted Washington's Columbia Valley. It was the rainiest day we've had since June, and temperatures never rose above 65.

Harvest kicking off for Barnard Griffin

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:57:39 -0400

On the way home tonight, I stopped in at Barnard Griffin in Richland, Wash., to chat with Rob Griffin, owner/winemaker. He plans to bring in a bit of Pinot Gris from a warm site on Tuesday, his first grapes of the season.

16 brix

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:48:59 -0400

I just used my refractometer to test the sugar level of my backyard Sangiovese grapes, and they came up to a somewhat pathetic 16 brix. For making wine, optimal ripeness would be closer to 24-25 brix.

Harvest should get going this week in Washington

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:09:51 -0400

Washington grapes should start coming in this week, at least for Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

I spoke with Charlie Hoppes (owner, Fidelitas) over the weekend, and he didn't look too stressed out, but he also didn't know quite when he would start receiving grapes.

When will harvest begin?

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:48:57 -0400

I've spoken to a half-dozen winemaker in the past two days and asked each how the grapes were looking. I heard a lot of long sighs followed by concerns about when - or if - the grapes would ever ripen in the Northwest.

Harvest starts in California, a month away in Washington

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:14:24 -0400

One of the earliest harvests on record has begun in California's Sonoma County, where 14 tons were picked Friday (out of 180,000 tons expected).

Meanwhile, Washington's harvest is a month away, thanks to a cooler spring.

The wrath of Oregon grapes?

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:50:38 -0400

The Oregonian published an article in which Bill Hatcher of A to Z (and formerly of Domaine Drouhin Oregon) believes the state is headed toward a grape glut. Others, notably David Adelsheim and Dick Shea, disagree.

Why Crest is best

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:57:27 -0400

Ever wonder how Columbia Crest manages to consistently make millions of bottles of wine for bargain prices? Ray Einberger and his crew at the Northwest's largest winery amaze me every time I pop the cork on one of their wines.

Winter blast helps B.C. finish ice wine harvest

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:21:53 -0500

Last week's blast of cold weather that swept into the Pacific Northwest helped British Columbia wineries finally finish their 2007 harvest - well into 2008.

Lisa Cameron of the British Columbia Wine Institute reported that 24 wineries harvested 520 tons of ice wine grapes this season, with everything wrapped up Thursday.

Merlot up, Chardonnay down in 2007 Washington grape report

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:42:42 -0500

The USDA has released its 2007 grape report for Washington state. As expected, it reported that Washington's wine grape crop was 127,000 tons, up 6 percent over 2006 and 15 percent over 2005. California's wine grape crop was 3.16 million tons, up from 3.13 million in 2006. New York was No. 3 at 41,000 tons. Oregon was No. 4 at 38,000 tons, up from 34,400 in 2006 and 25,000 tons in 2005.

More ice wine harvest info

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:31:30 -0500

British Columbia's 2007 ice wine harvest has been so low-key, I've gotten exactly one report from Okanagan Valley wineries. So I sent a note to the B.C. Wine Institute for an update.

Here's what Lisa Cameron, communications manager, told me.