Chardonnay harvest at French Creek Vineyard courtesy of Damon Lalonde

Harvest has begun in Washington’s Columbia Valley. Charles Auclair of Woodinville’s Auclair Winery kicked things off Saturday August 24^th, picking Sauvignon Blanc from Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain. Auclair reported that the grapes were picked at 22 Brix, a measure of sugar content.

Treveri Cellars, a sparkling wine producer in Yakima Valley, picked Chardonnay at its estate vineyard August 26^th. The winery also picked small blocks of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc. Grower Damon LaLonde also picked Chardonnay at French Creek Vineyard in Yakima Valley on the 26^th. The grapes will be used for sparkling wine.

Tirriddis, another sparkling producer, picked Pinot Gris at Mary Evelyn and Stonemark vineyards. Both vineyards are located in the Rattlesnake Hills.

Over the last 10 years, the beginning of harvest in the Columbia Valley has ranged from August 6^th (2016) to August 31^st (2022). The 2024 start of harvest is seven days behind the average date for the last 10 years.

However, the last decade has been notable for the warmth of most years. Growing Degree Days, a measure of heat accumulation, is currently tracking almost perfectly to the long-term average at Washington State University’s Roza station (see graph below).

That’s good news for a state where “average” years yield high quality fruit. As always, though, Washington’s vintages are typically defined as much by the weather during harvest as anything that comes before it. That story starts now.

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