Harvest has begun in the Columbia Valley. Fidélitas on Red Mountain started things off on August 19th, picking Sauvignon Blanc from Klipsun Vineyard. Others quickly followed suit, with DeLille Cellars and L’Ecole No 41 also picking Sauvignon Blanc from Klipsun on August 20th and 21st respectively. L’Ecole winemaker Marcus Rafanelli noted the recent hot weather accelerated the winery’s decision to pick.

Meanwhile harvest for sparkling wines also began on the 21st. Treveri Cellars picked Chardonnay from Hilltop Vineyard in Yakima Valley. Winemaker and senior vice president of sales Christian Grieb says that the grapes came in at 18.1 Brix with a 3.1pH. “Perfect for bubbly,” Grieb says. He picked this same fruit on the exact same date in 2019.

Finally, Tyler Harlington, winemaker at Four Feathers, reported that the winery picked Chardonnay for sparkling wine from Stonemark Vineyard in Rattlesnake Hills on August 21st (Brix: 18; pH: 3.03; TA: 11.8 g/L). “Great flavor development and balance,” Harlington notes.

Let the 2020 Harvest begin!

Photo courtesy of Tom Merkle, director of viticulture, Four Feathers.