The 2010 harvest is underway in Washington State. Over the coming weeks, I will provide weekly updates on what is picked, where, and when. See previous reports here.

10/20 Update: Nighttime temperatures dropped precipitously in eastern Washington over the last week. Many areas reported lows at or slightly below 32 degrees. However, through the work of wind machines and in some cases the apparent generosity of Mother Nature, most areas avoided a frost which would have put a punctuation mark on the growing season.

Still, as the days grow shorter and the daytime highs drop, many areas are not accumulating many heat units at this point. Growers continue however to hang fruit to get every last bit of sun the season provides. The biggest concern at present is a wet weather predicted to move into the area this weekend.

Columbia Valley’s Sagemoor Vineyards reports being about 75% complete with harvest as of the 19^th. Completed varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Barbera, Malbec, Carmenère, Sangiovese, Roussanne, and Syrah. Cabernet Franc is approximately 75% harvested, White Riesling about 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, and Petit Verdot 20%.

Sagemoor General Manager Kent Waliser says, “The most heard comment now is ‘I would just like the acidity come down a bit before I pick.’ Consequently there is a bit of chicken being played with the weather. Leaving fruit out there as long as possible to get the most change possible before the weather demands the fruit be picked seems to be the call of the day.”

While 2010 has been an unusual growing season by all accounts, many are extremely excited about the vintage, especially about Merlot. Dustin Tobin at Milbrandt Vineyards says, “From the looks of it this is a Merlot vintage. Every single lot of Merlot that is in house is looking great. We did not have any bad fruit come in the winery so far this vintage.”

Waliser agrees that 2010 has been a good year for one of Washington’s best grapes, saying, “Comments that are very positive keep being delivered back to the vineyard. Color, color, color, flavor, flavor, flavor are at the forefront. Winemakers seem continually shocked at the color, merlot especially, and usually we know if the color is there the wines will be great.” Still he says, the 2010 season has been confusing to many, saying, “I think some wineries are having trouble accepting what this growing season has given us. Many are used to the last ten years and want to make those wines. This is just different.”

Given that flavor maturity preceded sugar levels this growing season, many expect to produce lower alcohol wines than have been seen in many years. Ben Smith at Cadence Winery says that the 2010 vintage will provide wineries with a unique opportunity to display different styles. Smith says, “This vintage is going to clearly separate winemaking styles from different houses. Winemakers have had the unique opportunity to make wine with fully mature flavors at historically low alcohol levels should they choose to do so. Or they could wait for acids to drop, sugars to reach recent norms, and make lower acid, riper feeling wines at alcohol levels similar to recent warm vintages.”

While Mother Nature will dictate how long the growing season continues, 2010 will be a season to remember. Milbrandt’s Tobin estimates that harvest will be completed the first week of November. He says, “We are still waiting for our big Evergreen Vineyard push. All of our later ripening white varieties are still hanging up north at Evergreen.” Waliser says, “We aren’t sure when the last day of harvest will occur, but we know we will be talking about his harvest for many years to come. Having a year like this thrown in the mix is a gift to winemakers, consumers, and of course the critics. Let the writing and discourse begin.”

See information on the Washington State Growing Degree Days here.

Monthly forecast for Yakima, Walla Walla, and Mattawa.

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The information in the table below is aggregated from personal correspondence with growers and winemakers, as well as information posted on Twitter and Facebook. It is not intended to be comprehensive but rather is intended as a snapshot of what is going on around the state. If you wish to send data for your grapes or vineyards (or correct any of the information below), please email me at wawinereport@gmail.com, leave a comment here, or leave a comment on the WWR Facebook page.