What’s it like being at the beginning of a really excellent vintage and not making wine?
Well, I do cycle through the stages of grief, but this year, acceptance seems to have taken hold. I do have some issues with a lot of our grapes being homeless. This is a problem in most wine regions.
The French government is subsidizing the removal of more acres of vineyards than we have in Washington. We are a very tiny region that is in the 90th percentile of top wines. Folks are pulling out vineyards here, too, no subsidies from our government, though. The world wine supply is in excess.
In Spring, I had several small wineries on board to buy grapes. They have all canceled; they are having a hard time selling the wine they have. New winery owners quickly learn it’s easier to make wine than to sell it.
I have some grapes going to farmer’s markets as fresh grapes and as grape juice and some going to home winemakers. If you are a home winemaker we can provide some prime stuff. At the least you can go pick a few pounds to eat at no charge.
One thing I’m trying to do is find homes for our lovely 20-35-year-old, truly neutral barrels. Few folks have had experience with barrels like this, and we have a lot of folks trying to sell new barrels, concrete eggs, and other expensive containers.
Hmm. I should contact Clark Smith, the very influential, innovative guy who also appreciates his 30-year-old barrels.
This year’s harvest is early, with an early spring start and a nice, warm, dry summer. The challenge in a year like this is that everything gets ripe in a very narrow window. During some cooler years, harvest is 60 days. I’m anticipating that this year it will be done in 45, and some wineries even less. That’s 1/3 of the work of winemaking.
It’s a good month to take a gathering trip to the Yakima Valley. The fruit and vegetable sellers have lots of stuff: apples, pears, peaches, tomatoes, peppers, squash . . . and, of course, grape preserves, aka wine!
If you are a home preserver like me, it’s time to load the pantry and freezer(s)!
I’ve always thought September and October are the best months to explore Washington. The weather is lovely: cool mornings and warm afternoons, good sleeping weather, chilly nights, and a warm spot for an afternoon nap. Before grapes got their tiny hands on me, I’d take a lot of time off for hiking, fishing, hunting, bicycling, motorcycling, and harvesting.
I’m having time this year to take advantage! Dang, I need to find a hunting buddy under 70. I’m pretty sure I can’t carry a 160-lb. deer carcass out of Hell’s Canyon or down off The Palisades, even though from The Palisades, it is down a very steep mountain. All four of our dogs are useless, more like a liability, for bird hunting. I was blessed with some really good bird dogs in my younger days.
Guess I’ll have to go fishing.
Trout grilled over grape wood, sweet corn, and Rosé Paradiso? Yes, please!
