Let the winemaking begin!

Our local wineries are busy doing what they do best - making wonderful wine. Here's the picking, crushing, punch-down week at glance.



Photo Credit:
Wawawai Canyon

 Wawawai Canyon Winery The first release of their season, a 2008 Columbia Valley Viognier will be available this Friday. The winery reports this is full bodied with lots of intensity...this wine practically explodes with notes of honeysuckle and fresh peach. On the palette, complex layers of tropical fruit, honey and dried apricot. A pleasure to drink and stylistically reminiscent their 2007 Roussanne-Viognier.


Robert Karl Cellars just finished making 2009 Rosé of Cabernet Franc. It will be released in May for the SWA Spring Barrel Tasting. 

Rosé wines are made from red grapes where the juice is allowed to stay in contact with the dark skins long enough to pick up a pinkish color, but little of the tannins contained in the skins.

Barrister Winery is excited that Harvest is finally getting into full swing. Harvest is the picking of the grapes and in many ways the first step in wine production. On Saturday Barrister crushed 7 tons of Syrah, 3 tons of Walla Walla Merlot on Sunday and then finally today they were crushing Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvvignon.

Crushing is the process of gently squeezing the berries and breaking the skins to start to liberate the contents of the berries. If you stopped by to watch the process of your future wine, they may have put you to work.

Photo Credit: Latah Creek Wine Cellars

Latah Creek Wine Cellars is pleased the  Harvest has finally begun, having just received their Sangiovese juice to make a Rosé  of Sangiovese. They report the color of the juice is absolutely stunning and they plan to release it in the Spring.

Barilli Cellars reports that punch-downs begin on the Rattlesnake Hills Syrah and Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

Punch-down or pressing is the act of applying pressure to grapes in order to separate juice or wine from grapes and grape skins. 





Photo Credit: Tim Nodland


Nodland Cellars posts that the Grapes look great and they are on the way back to Spokane to CRUSH Cabernet Sauvignon. The Nodlands spent the day picking grapes in three vineyards; Seven Hills Cabernet, Winchester Merlot and Red Mtn Cabernet.

Merry Cellars reports "Here we go!" They finally have their first batch of fruit for the 2010 vintage. They say it's been a long wait but you can't rush perfection. Today they were crushing.