When Does Grape Harvest Season End in Washington?

In North America, the agriculture industry, including vineyards, is very busy from spring to late fall each year. When does grape harvest season end in Washington? The harvest can last for up to two months, depending on the varietals, usually between August and October in the Northern Hemisphere.  Once the grapes have been picked and prepared by mid-October, what do winemakers do during the long winters? After the hard work all summer and fall, you would think vintners might take a vacation. But not so! There is still much work to be done. 

WINEMAKING IS A TIME-CONSUMING BUSINESS

Winemaking is a very hard business that is demanding and time-consuming. Hence, most winemakers remain busy for most of the winter months. What do they do when the ground is frozen, and there is snow everywhere for most of winter?

WHAT WINEMAKERS DO IN THE OFF-SEASON

What winemakers do in the off-season is … prepare the land for next year’s harvest. They are workaholics!  They have to perfect their craft.  The first step is to prune the vines, and this is major-league work. It involves separating the damaged branches and dead wood from the healthy wood by cutting the stems. At the same time, the winemaker must remove the lateral shoots but leave the strongest shoots on the vine to channel their energy into. This is manual labor that requires time and effort. There are some wineries that utilize the dead branches for composting; this permits the natural materials to be put back into the earth’s soil. Others simply dispose of the dead branches.

PRUNING IS VITAL

No stubs should be left when pruning, as this allows bugs and pests to enter the vine, resulting in permanent damage. This is a critical step that requires care because if the plant is damaged, there will be no grapes the following season.

In areas of the country where there is a high risk of snowfall or frost (such as the Pacific Northwest), the vines need to be protected from the harsh weather by using covers made of straw or soil.  This maneuver also helps arrest soil erosion that may occur due to storms and cold weather.

Wondering what winemakers do in the off season? Pruning usually starts soon after Thanksgiving and lasts until the end of March. It is vital to prune as it keeps the vines healthy and free of disease.

WORK CONTINUES IN THE CELLAR

When does grape harvest season end in Washington? Once the work outside is done, there is more work to do in the cellar. Here the winemaker is busy with filtering, racking, and bottling red and white wines. Racking is defined as the process of moving wine from one vessel to another (e.g., barrel to barrel or barrel to tank). This allows the stabilization of the wine and, at the same time, allows the softening of tannins. The wines then undergo the process of fining and filtration. These two processes remove sediment and other obvious visible substances from the eventual beverage. Finning usually involves the addition of a fining agent to create chemical bonds in the wine, which will ultimately reduce undesirable qualities and improve the haziness. Filtering removes all the old particles, like lactic acid bacteria and dead yeast cells. 

BOTTLING THE WINE

The next step is to bottle the wines and box them for shipment or further aging. Overall, red wines tend to require more time to age compared to roses and whites.  Once the wine is boxed, it has to be marketed. For most of the winter, winemakers receive many orders from retailers and wholesalers. Some run an online store that sells wine directly to consumers. And soon, it is March again, and time for the planting of new vines.

When does grape harvest season end in Washington? The life of a winemaker is not easy. The hours are long, the work is hard, and it is an all-year-round profession, but the payoff is immense. Winemakers get immense satisfaction when consumers enjoy their wines.

The next time you visit a vineyard and admire the beauty of the land, remember that, while things may look pristine and quiet, there is a lot of work that goes on inside and outside the vineyard to make it successful. Visit our wine page to explore some of the products of our labors.

For your consideration:

• 2018 HAHN HILL VINEYARD CHENIN BLANC
• 2018 SPRING CREEK VINEYARD GRÜNER VELTLINER
• 2021 RAINSTORM PINOT NOIR ROSÉ

What are the Best White Wines for Fall?

There’s a fairly common misconception many believe - white wine is only for the warmer months like spring and summer. While white wines can certainly prove incredibly refreshing as the heat of summer comes on, the simple truth is that there are many white wines that work well as the temperatures change. Moving from light-bodied wines with light citrus notes in the warm summer months to full-bodied white wines with deeper, nuttier flavors is perfectly acceptable! What are the best white wines for fall? Take a look at this list.

• Riesling: Many enthusiasts tout a Riesling’s year-round drinkability, and for good reason. It pairs well with a number of different fruits, and the beautiful acidity and minerality make these options ideal for almost any season. It’s one of the best white wines for fall because Riesling tends to celebrate the staples of this harvest season, offering you the juicy, sweet-tart combination you might expect from fall fruits along with a number of spice profiles that will help put you in the mood for the crisp autumn days ahead. 
• Pinot Gris: A good Pinot Gris is a deep, complex sweet wine that is ideal for your fall table. Ours offers the aroma of crisp pear and honey blossom, the perfect hint of fall. With a driving minerality and a fairly short finish, it’s full of energy and perfect for your fall table. 
• Chenin Blanc: The scents that surround fall are virtually bottled with a Chenin Blanc. From the moment you uncork it, you’ll find the honey and pear notes that will literally bring to mind short fall afternoons complete with brightly colored leaves and the warmth of the setting sun. Our Chenin Blanc highlights those bright fall afternoons and long evenings thanks to its pear and quince essence. A dry choice compared to some of the other best white wines for fall, it pairs well with every fall dish you can imagine from butternut squash to apples or roasted pears. In fact, it will even look amazing on your table as you reach the Thanksgiving holiday. 
• Gewurztraminer: Aromatic intensity characterizes the best fall wines, and our 2018 Gewurztraminer offers that and so much more. With a bouquet of roses, lychee, and clove, it offers a bright flavor many others simply can’t match. As soon as you pour a glass and take a sip, you’ll immediately appreciate the warmth it provides. Pair it with the spiced meals that you appreciate the most in the fall and appreciate how well this option fits with the season. 

While many believe fall is the season of reds, the simple reality is that there are many great fall white wines you’ll miss if you only look to reds at this time of year. Shop our complete selection now, and savor the beautiful autumn evenings.

Thanksgiving Wine Pairings to Try This Year

Choosing the right wine for your Thanksgiving table can create almost as much stress as hosting the holiday itself. With such a large variety of food and flavor profiles sitting on your table, it’s tough to decide what might work well with the richness of the sweet potatoes, the tart pop of the cranberries, and the spicy pumpkin pie. Many enthusiasts suggest taking the frustration out of Thanksgiving wine pairings and purchasing options that complement a number of different foods. If you’re ready to walk away from the stress and find the perfect bottle to go with everything on your table, this should be your only stop. Here are a few of the best wine options for Thanksgiving.

Chenin Blanc

A Chenin Blanc offers a spicy and slightly sweet flavor that will work well with most of what you’re serving at Thanksgiving, making it one of the best Thanksgiving wine pairings. It has a high acidity level, and ours offers bright flavors of pear and quince. Fairly dry, this wine is incredibly versatile, and it can adapt to almost every dish you’re serving. 

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir tends to offer a dry, medium-bodied flavor that makes it a good candidate for the best wine for Thanksgiving. It’s incredibly popular too, so almost everyone attending your feast should truly enjoy a glass. Ours offers a bouquet of strawberry, rosehip, and cranberry, and it will pair well with a number of different foods that you’re serving. It’s a classic fall wine for this classic fall feast. 

Gewurztraminer

The German word “Gewurtz” from which this wine is named literally means spiced, and that’s what you’ll find with our Gewurztraminer. Highly aromatic, you’ll find a spice note of clove and the taste of passion fruit, melon, and tangerine. While many aren’t quite sure how to pair a Gewurztraminer, the reality is that it’s an incredibly food-friendly choice. It works well with almost anything at your table, making it a good alternative to some of the red wine choices that always seem to grace the Thanksgiving table. 

Pinot Noir Rosè

Think you left behind Rosè when the summer sun ended? Think again. Rose can make for one of the best Thanksgiving wine pairings. Not just because it’s a hot trend on Instagram right now either. It’s crisp and light, and when you’re eating a heavy meal like Thanksgiving leftovers, it makes the ideal complement. As soon as you taste it, you’ll be able to feel the bright acidity and fresh elegance. It’s a popular choice for a reason, and it’s a great option for your table this year. Ours offers aromas of strawberry, rose petals, and pomegranate, so you’ll get the refreshing touch you need this holiday season. 

Thanksgiving is often one of the biggest food holidays of the year, but this year, you’ll have the ideal wine to pair with all of that delicious food at your table.

What is the Freezing Point of Wine?

If you need to chill wine quickly, some people will place their bottles in the freezer for 10-20 minutes because they prefer to drink something cold. But if you’ve ever accidentally left it in for a long time, you know it can freeze. In general, freezing alters the flavors of most beverages. But what about wine? What is the freezing point of wine? Will it affect the flavor? Find out.

ALCOHOL AND WATER

Wine, like almost all liquids, will freeze if left long enough in the freezer. However, the one big difference between wine and other beverages is that wine contains a range of minerals and organic compounds that can affect the temperature at which wine freezes. Even though it is usually the amount of alcohol and water that determine the freezing point of wines, the other substances involved, like sugar, can also lower the freezing point by a few degrees.

If you like your wine to be cold, then it’s smart to become familiar with the freezing point of wine. In general, wine freezing temperatures range between 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (F). This depends on the amount of alcohol and other substances present. This is much lower than the freezing point of water.  Overall, the freezing point of wine is lower than water, and the more alcohol your wine contains, the lower the wine's freezing temperature.

ALCOHOL BY VOLUME (ABV) RATING

The majority of wines have an ABV rating of between 11 to 13 percent. In addition, red wines tend to have more alcohol than white wines. Sparkling and rose wines tend to have the lowest content of alcohol. Another factor that affects the freezing point of wine is the sugar content. Sugars tend to lower the freezing point of liquids and, hence, the sweeter the wine, the lower will be the freezing point.

Wines will usually freeze in 3-5 hours depending on the temperature you have the freezer set to. As the wine starts to freeze, the water molecules start to solidify, and the consistency of the beverage changes.

FREEZING CAN ALTER THE TASTE

While wine that has been frozen is safe to consume, freezing will permanently change the flavor and aroma. You will definitely notice a distinct change in taste when a wine has been frozen and thawed. Experts say, however, that this is not the end of the world. if your frozen wine has been thawed and still tastes fine, then you are at liberty to continue consuming the beverage.

DO NOT DISCARD FROZEN WINE

If you have leftover wine (usually white wine) that will not be consumed, you can store it as ice cubes and use the cubes for chilling future glasses of the same wine.

BEWARE OF FREEZING WINE FOR TOO LONG IN GLASS BOTTLES

Finally, if you are going to be freezing wine, do not freeze it in a glass bottle. This is especially true of sparkling wine bottles which are under high pressure and can burst violently in the freezer. Instead, pour the wine into freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays and leave ample room for the wine to expand.

For more tips and tricks check out our other blog posts. Our experts here at Pacific Rim & Company are always happy to answer your questions.

Some Fall Red Wine You Have to Try

For many, fall marks a serious change in weather and landscape. Temperatures begin to drop across the country, and trees slowly lose their green glory of spring and summer. For the wine industry, falls marks a real change in flavors too. While many people spend the summer searching for crisp white wine options, those flavor choices shift as fall begins and people start searching for bold, rich red choices to pair with heartier food options. Not every fall meal calls for a full-bodied red wine, though. In some cases, you might want a much lighter red to pair with your dish. What fall red wine should you consider serving next? This quick guide can help. 

Pinot Noir

An ideal fall red wine thanks to its earthy tones, this is an excellent choice if you’re serving chicken or duck, as well as dishes that have strong ingredients like mushrooms. These wines typically feature elegant flavors like cherry and pomegranate, so you’ll find it complements complex dishes that often grace fall tables. 

Cabernet Sauvignon

Whether you’re creating a beautiful fall dish with a fantastic sauce or you’re serving a thick prime rib for dinner, this is the right wine to match with fall thanks to its full-bodied characteristics. With a soft feel that includes the vanilla and spices from the oak in which it is aged, you’ll find a stunning taste when you serve this with an upcoming meal. Another great fall red wine. 

Red Blends

These are one of the most popular fall choices, and one of the largest wine categories in the United States. You’ll typically find notes of bright, red berries like cherry, as well as firm tannins with these kinds of wines, and they tend to pair well with risottos or spicier meats like sausages. 

No matter which fall wines might be ideal for your next cozy evening, we can help. Take a look at a few of our fall options now.