Countdown to Crush and Harvest Celebrations
It’s a beautiful time of year in Yakima Valley Wine Country, full of excitement for winemakers and wine lovers alike. Harvest is well underway throughout Valley vineyards with grapes on their way to local wineries. As grape crushing begins the winemaking process, winemakers are ready to craft their next great vintage and you can feel the energy in the air!
Come to the source, share in the excitement of the season and find your next favorite Yakima Valley wine right where Washington wine was born, in the Washington state’s first AVA. In addition to harvest festivities, this is also a time when many wineries release new wines and specials abound, so it’s a perfect time stock up on wine for the holiday season. Be sure to leave time to take a lovely drive through the vineyards beginning to take on stunning fall colors.
As you plan your trip, check out some of the Wines, Vines, Hops & Brewsfor some of the top tasting tours in the valley and 7 Stops for Perfectly Paired Winery Bites.
Harvest and Crush Events
Annual grape harvest and crush festivities take place throughout harvest season, but you’ll find most of them mid-October, especially October 12 and 13. Wineries around the Valley have special events on the calendar to celebrate harvest grape crush. Find harvest and winemaking experiences, grape stomping, harvest parties, live music, delicious food and fun all around the Valley. You can find the full Catch the Crush lineup on our calendar, but here’s a sampling!
Start harvest celebrations early with Whitman Hill Winery, one of the newest wineries in the Yakima Valley, as they open their doors September 20 and 21 for a Crush for Cancer fundraiser. Raise a glass for a good cause with a wine pairing dinner, grape stomp, food trucks, raffle items, lawn games, a floating luminary release, music performances and more.
Celebrate harvest season October 12 and 13 with a special behind-the-scenes Harvest Experience at Dineen Vineyards, VanArnam Vineyards and Two Mountain Winery. Reserve your tickets for a look at what the winemakers do during harvest, including making picking decisions, crushing grapes and fermenting to craft wines of distinction. Compare and taste grapes at each stage of the process to wines in bottle. You don’t have to attend the Harvest Experience to enjoy crush celebrations at VanArnam Vineyards and Dineen Vineyards the rest of the weekend!
Freehand Cellars has a fantastic day planned October 12, with a grape stomp celebration and live music. Airfield Estates has a full weekend planned with their winemaker dinner on Friday followed by their 17th annual 5K Vineyard Run on October 12, complete with grape tastings along the way. Runners, walkers, children and well-behaved dogs are welcome to participate. Register for the grape stomp to follow at the tasting room in Prosser – or simply observe and have a glass of wine!
Don’t miss the Harvest Festivalat Chandler Reach Estate Winery and Vineyard, October 12. Explore the estate with guided tours of their on-site vineyard and underground cellar, meet the winemaker and have fun getting a little messy at the grape stomp. This is a ticketed event that includes live music, the winery’s Cucina menu and more.
More festivities abound at wineries around the valley, with more added every day. Keep checking our Harvest and Crush calendar for updates as we receive events from our wineries. Find more grape stomp experiences, live music, food and paired bites, costume contests, corn hole tournaments, free-run juice, games and more.
Harvest Flavors & Fun
Be sure to leave time for a stop or two at local restaurants showcasing the abundant fall harvest, artfully paired with Yakima Valley wines. In addition to Northwest dining options, sample seasonal woodfired pizza at Bron Yr Aur Brewing Co and HopTown Woodfired Pizza.
Be sure to check out the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market on Sunday morning throughout harvest. Farm stands throughout the Valley are full of your favorite fall fruits and vegetables. Stop by to stock up on fall flavors and pick up gifts, wine country décor and locally made artisan goods at Johnson Orchards, Thompson’s Farm Marketin Naches and Washington Fruit Place @ Barrett Orchards, where you’ll also find October Days festivities underway.
Categorized in: Food and Dining, Live Music, Wine Country
