Veraison in Merlot at Weinbau Vineyard, courtesy Brittany Komm

Veraison, the changing of color of the grapes, has begun in the Columbia Valley.

Brittany Komm, vineyard operations manager at Sagemoor Vineyards, reported seeing veraison at Weinbau Vineyard in Cabernet Sauvignon on July 22nd and in Merlot a day later. The vineyard is located on the Wahluke Slope. Komm also saw veraison in Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot on July 23rd at Bacchus and Dionysus vineyards in the White Bluffs appellation.

Compared to historical dates, this is between 1 (2020) and 10 (2023) days behind most of the previous 10 vintages. The only year in the last decade where veraison started later was the cool 2022 vintage (July 27th).

Overall, the 2024 growing season in Washington had a cool start. Temperatures warmed considerably starting in July.

Looking at Washington State University’s chart of Growing Degree Days (GDD), a measure of heat accumulation, Washington has been below the long-term average for much of the season. It is now touching average. Given July’s warm temperatures and an always-warm August in eastern Washington, GDDs are likely to move above the long-term average soon.

As always with Washington, how the growing season finishes says as much about wine presentation and overall quality as anything that comes before. That story remains to be written. However, with veraison now underway, the first pages will be written shortly. Harvest is not far off.

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