It looks like DeLille Cellars is the first to bring in some grapes as of today. Is there anyone else who is bringing in grapes?
Woodinville wineries will begin receiving their first grapes of the season today from Eastern Washington vineyards marking the official start to the 2012 harvest in Woodinville and giving greater Seattle area wine lovers more reason than ever to visit Woodinville Wine Country.
“This is when the wineries rock and roll,” notes Brian Carter Cellar’s Mike Stevens and Woodinville Wine Country president. “It’s all hands on deck. You can feel the energy the minute you walk into a winery crushing grapes, and the delicious, heady aroma of the fruit is something any wine enthusiast shouldn’t miss.”
Patterson Cellars, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Covington Cellars and DeLille Cellars will be among the first Woodinville wineries to receive the first white grapes of the season today. “Columbia Valley growing conditions have been picture perfect this summer, and winemakers can’t wait to get their hands on these grapes,” says Stevens.
With almost 100 wineries and tasting rooms in Woodinville, consumers will have plenty of opportunity to experience harvest for themselves. Many Woodinville wineries offer weekend visitors the opportunity to taste tank samples as the grape juice ferments or sample whole grapes in the tasting room. Some wineries, like Novelty Hill-Januik, are designed to showcase the winemaking process giving visitors an opportunity to see the crusher-destemmer at work as well as survey the cellar crew working the fermentation tanks.
In the north end of town, Woodinville’s Warehouse district is home to almost 40 wineries where weekend visitors are as likely to meet the winemaker as they are to be offered an opportunity to tour these boutique wineries’ winemaking operations.
Conveniently located 25 minutes northeast of downtown Seattle, Woodinville is home to nearly 100 Washington wineries and tasting rooms. More information on visiting is available at woodinvillewinecountry.com or on Facebook/WoodinvilleWineCountry.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Scott Greenberg 09.10.12 at 6:48 pm
Convergence Zone Cellars brought in our Ciel du Cheval Pinot Gris on Sept. 5–two weeks earlier than last year. It’s in tank now, ready to begin fermentation.