One Washington grape grower has found a few grapes turning purple in the Horse Heaven Hills - a full week ahead of last year's historically early vintage. Paul Champoux, who sold his eponymous vineyard and retired nearly two years ago, found a few purple berries in his beloved Marquette block on Thursday. A year ago, he reported finding the first signs of veraison on June … [Read more...] about Washington grapes start to change color as ‘veraison’ begins
Grapes
Washington grape growers bullish on warm ’16 vintage
As the hot 2016 vintage marches toward harvest, Washington wine grape growers are optimistic about quality, quantity - and just about everything else they see in their vineyards. "We're pleased with what we see this year," said Lacey Lybeck, vineyard manager for historic Sagemoor Vineyards along the Columbia River. "We're seeing average cluster size throughout all varieties. … [Read more...] about Washington grape growers bullish on warm ’16 vintage
Red Mountain winemakers taste mechanically harvested Cab
BENTON CITY, Wash. - One of the most important growers on Red Mountain is encouraging more of its winemaking customers to embrace mechanical harvesting for a variety of reasons. Marshall Edwards, vineyard operations manager for Shaw Vineyards and Northwest Vineyard Management, opened the annual barrel tasting of Quintessence Vineyards by telling wineries that the growing … [Read more...] about Red Mountain winemakers taste mechanically harvested Cab
Rise and fall of Washington Lemberger
PROSSER, Wash. - With a name that sounded too much like a stinky German cheese, Lemberger never really had a chance when it was introduced to Washington in the 1960s and '70s. And that's too bad, says winemaker Wade Wolfe, owner of Thurston Wolfe Winery in Prosser, because it's a red wine grape that is perfectly suited to grow in Washington's vast Columbia Valley and it … [Read more...] about Rise and fall of Washington Lemberger
Washington wine grape growers emerge intact from mild spring
A mild winter and warm spring have Washington wine grape growers happy to see frost season in their rearview mirrors. "Everything is great," said Jarrod Boyle, owner of Alexandria Nicole Cellars and Destiny Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills. "We didn't even turn on the wind machines this year. We're pretty fortunate." Traditionally, wine grape growers begin … [Read more...] about Washington wine grape growers emerge intact from mild spring