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VineLines Dispatch: A Gorgeous look at harvest

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Mount Hood looms over Phelps Creek Vineyards during the morning harvest of Pinot Noir on Oct. 6, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 

Resident photojournalist Richard Duval struck out on the road during September and October to capture harvest and crush activities for a series of photo essays on the season.

From Chelan to both sides of the Columbia River Gorge, he photographed winegrowers and winemakers focused on bringing in the fruit. Today’s column is Dispatch No. 4 – the Columbia Gorge American Viticultural Area – and touches on both sides of the river in early October.

Phelps Creek Vineyards, Hood River, Ore.

Phelps Creek Vineyards in Hood River, Ore., makes one of its final passes of estate Pinot Noir on Oct. 6, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
Pinot Noir hangs on the vine Oct. 6, 2020, at Phelps Creek Vineyards in Hood River, Ore. (Richard Duval Images) 
An empty bin in the shade will soon be filled Oct. 6, 2020 at Phelps Creek Vineyards in Hood River, Ore. (Richard Duval Images) 
Bucket by bucket Pinot Noir berries will fill the bins Oct. 6, 2020 at Phelps Creek Vineyards in Hood River, Ore. (Richard Duval Images) 
Assistant winemaker Ira Kreft administers a pump over of Pinot Noir on Oct. 9, 2020 at Phelps Creek Vineyards in Hood River, Ore. (Richard Duval Images) 
A fountain of Pinot Noir is a beautiful sight Oct. 9, 2020 at Phelps Creek Vineyards in Hood River, Ore. (Richard Duval Images) 

Underwood Mountain Vineyards, White Salmon, Wash.

Underwood Mountain Vineyards near White Salmon, Wash., offers views of Mount Hood to the south while growing some of the most sought-after cool-climate grapes in the Pacific Northwest. (Richard Duval Images) 
Riesling hangs at Underwood Mountain Vineyards in the Columbia Gorge on Oct. 5, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
Loop de Loop Winery in the Columbia Gorge harvests Riesling from Underwood Mountain Vineyard on Oct. 5, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
Underwood Mountain Vineyard, which produces some of the most prized Riesling in the Northwest, is bound for Loop de Loop Winery in the Columbia Gorge on Oct. 5, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
Tractor work can get treacherous along the steep slopes Oct. 5, 2020, at Underwood Mountain Vineyard near White Salmon, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 
Scott Gulstine, co-owner of Loop de Loop Winery in White Salmon, Wash., hops off the tractor during Riesling harvest Oct. 5, 2020 at Underwood Mountain Vineyards. (Richard Duval Images) 
Corry Arnold, a viticulturist, samples clusters of Riesling at steeply sloped Underwood Mountain Vineyards on Oct. 5, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
Corry Arnold, a viticulturist, makes the call Oct. 5, 2020, to pick a row of Underwood Mountain Vineyards Riesling for Loop de Loop Winery. (Richard Duval Images) 

Celilo Vineyard, White Salmon, Wash.

Celilo Vineyard near White Salmon, Wash., is a site prized by the likes of famed Walla Walla Valley producers Abeja and Woodward Canyon Winery for Chardonnay. (Richard Duval Images) 
Examples of buttery Chardonnay, a style California made famous, are rarely produced by wineries who invest in the hand-harvested grapes from Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge. (Richard Duval Images) 
Celilo Vineyard near White Salmon, Wash., is one of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest plantings. It was established in 1972 by Seattle surgeon William McAndrew. (Richard Duval Images) 
Celilo Vineyard continues to be meticulously farmed since it was sold in 2015 to Michael and Laurie Corliss of Corliss Estates and Tranche Cellars in Walla Walla, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 
Old vines of Chardonnay are harvested by hand Oct. 6, 2020, at Celilo Vineyard near White Salmon, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 
Celilo Vineyard, which features vines planted at an altitude of nearly 1,500 feet, comes with a view of Mount Hood south across the Columbia River. (Richard Duval Images) 
Clusters of Chardonnay are framed by leaves Oct. 5, 2020, at Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia Goge near White Salmon, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 
Celilo Vineyard features a 1983 planting of Wente selection Chardonnay, which carries a lineage to Wente Vineyards in California’s Livermore Valley. (Richard Duval Images)
Tony Dollar, owner/winemaker of Lobo Hills Wine Co. in Woodinville, Wash., walks a row of Chardonnay on Oct. 5, 2020 at Celilo Vineyard near White Salmon, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 
Tony Dollar of Lobo Hills Wine Co in Woodinville visits with Mark Fahey, who manages Celilo Vineyard for Corliss-controlled Washington Vintners in Walla Walla, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 
Tony Dollar of Lobo Hills Wine Co., in Woodinville, Wash., inspects Chardonnay harvested Oct. 5, 2020 at Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge. (Richard Duval Images) 

AniChe Cellars, Underwood, Wash.

AniChe Cellars in Underwood, Wash., brings in a bin of Barbera from Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills on Oct. 5, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
Rachael Horn, founding winemaker of AniChe Cellars, rakes a bin of Barbera on Oct. 5, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
Barbera from Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills arrives Oct. 5, 2020 at AniChe Cellars, where the grape often is featured in an Italian-inspired red blend with Dolcetto and Zinfandel under its Sirius program. (Richard Duval Images) 
Kelly Anderson and Sebastian Cahe sort Barbera clusters on the crush pad Oct. 5, 2020 at AniChe Cellars in Underwood, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 

Stave & Stone Wine Estates, Hood River, Ore.

Jill House, owner of Stave & Stone Wine Estates in Hood River, Ore., stands in her Broken Boulder Vineyard near Fletcher Drive. (Richard Duval Images) 
Broken Boulder Vineyard is the estate vineyard for Stave & Stone Wine Estates in Hood River, Ore. (Richard Duval Images) 
Jill House of Hood River, Ore., transformed her four-generation family farm into Broken Boulder Vineyard, the estate planting for Stave & Stone Wine Estates, which was named the 2019 Oregon Winery to Watch by Wine Press Northwest magazine. (Richard Duval Images) 

Rainmaker Vineyard, White Salmon, Wash.

Rainmaker Vineyard, established in 2015 near White Salmon, Wash., quickly attracted customers in Woodinville, Wash., such as W.T. Vintners. (Richard Duval Images) 
Rainmaker Vineyard specializes in cool-climate varieties, including Pinot Noir. (Richard Duval Images) 
Rainmaker Vineyard brings in Pinot Noir on Oct, 7, 2020. (Richard Duval Images) 
A tractor stands out in the narrow rows at Rainmaker Vineyard. (Richard Duval Images) 
Larry Singer, who owns young Rainmaker Vineyard, inspects clusters of Pinot Noir that are bound for the rosé program at W.T. Vintners in Woodinville, Wash. (Richard Duval Images) 
Rainmaker Vineyard, planted at 1,200 feet elevation, is looking to expand upon its acclaimed early efforts with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. (Richard Duval Images) 

Maryhill Winery, Goldendale, Wash.

The crush pad at Maryhill Winery is cranking on Oct. 9, 2020 in Goldendale, Wash. (Richard Duval Images)
Richard Batchelor, a native of New Zealand, updates the captain’s log for his 12th crush as head winemaker at Maryhill Winery in Goldendale, Wash. (Richard Duval Images)
Maryhill Winery works with berries from some of the top vineyards in Washington state to produce a steady string of gold-medal wines near the Columbia River in Goldendale, Wash. (Richard Duval Images)
Maryhill Winery will turn these grapes into award-winning wines that will be poured at its tasting rooms and bistros in Spokane, Woodinville, Vancouver USA and Goldendale, Wash. (Richard Duval Images)

About Richard Duval

Contributing wine photojournalist Richard Duval captures vivid wine imagery for Great Northwest Wine, Wine Press Northwest and other regional and national wine media. His images are found in wine marketing guides throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho and used by a growing number of wineries in the Pacific Northwest. From his studio in Woodinville, Wash., Richard creates bottle shots and captures the occasional portrait of wine personalities. His “Art from the Vine” fine art exhibit has been displayed in restaurants, hotels, wineries and wine centers throughout the region. He markets wine work, which includes a line of personal greeting cards, online via WinePix — http://www.winepix.net.

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