In the Heart of Harvest
17 places to get in on the winemaking action, or celebrate the new vintage, in North America
Harvest is the most thrilling time to visit wine country, and you don't have to be a winemaker to be part of the buzz. From Napa to New York, anyone can help winery crews in the vineyard or the winery, from picking and sorting grapes to blending and tasting the wines as they go into barrel. Those who prefer partying to hard labor can celebrate the new wines with formal dinners, live music, tastings and much more, in Canada's Okanagan Valley, Washington's Columbia Valley, Oregon's Willamette Valley, New York's Finger Lakes, California's Paso Robles area and beyond.
Winery Work: Picking and Stomping Grapes, Tasting Juice
California
Napa
If you've ever dreamed of making sparkling wine, here's your chance. At Schramsberg's "Camp Schramsberg," you'll harvest grapes with winemakers Hugh Davies and Craig Roemer at sunrise before heading indoors to learn how grapes are pressed, alcohol levels are measured and fermentation works. The next day, a series of tastings help demonstrate the importance of the blending and aging processes in producing sparkling wine. You'll disgorge a bottle that has already been aged, add the final dosage, and learn how to cork, label and seal it. Beyond the hard labor there's food-and-wine pairing sessions at the Culinary Institute of America and tours of the winery's 19th century caves. The 2007 fall camp is sold out, but space is available for next fall (Sept. 7—9, 2008) and in the spring camp focusing on blending (March 9—11, 2008). Rates are $995 per person, including some meals. 1400 Schramsberg Road, Calistoga, (800) 877-3623, www.schramsberg.com
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Sonoma
For an intensive tutorial in winemaking, head to one of Sonoma County's most opulent wineries, Ferrari-Carano. Vineyard director Steve Domenichelli will teach you how to pick, sort and taste grapes, followed by lessons on the punch-down process and inoculating tanks with yeast. You'll also taste juice during each stage of the process, noting how it evolves into wine. Downtime brings a multicourse lunch with wine in the winery's 25,000-square-foot hospitality center and dinner with Ferrari-Carano's winemakers, Aaron Piotter and Sarah Quider, at John Ash & Co., a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner. Offered Sept. 21—23, 2007, and Sept. 12—14, 2008. Rates are $1,250 per couple, including a two-night stay at Vintners Inn; ask for the Harvest Wine Country Weekend package. 8761 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg, (707) 433-6700, www.ferrari-carano.com
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New York
Long Island
The 175-acre Wölffer Estate mixes work and play at its family-friendly harvest celebration (Oct. 7). If you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty, stomp and pick grapes in the vineyard with winemaker Roman Roth and vineyard manager Richard Piscano, and tackle the barrel-rolling contest. Or kick back and listen to live music by the local Jim Turner band while tasting current releases, older vintages and samples of the fermenting 2007 vintage (if harvest has begun). Lunchtime brings a Tuscan-style spread (think grilled vegetables, meats and cheeses) and a kiddie barbecue. At day's end, a Harvest Queen will be chosen based on her wine smarts and grape-stomping technique. Admission is $65 for adults (ages 12 and older) and $15 for children under 12; 11:30 a.m.—4 p.m. 139 Sagg Road, Sagaponack, Long Island, NY, (631) 537-5106, www.wolffer.com
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Celebrations: Live Music, Tastings, Dinners and More
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| Millbrook, in New York's Hudson Valley, converted a simple dairy farmhouse into its winery. |
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Washington
Columbia Valley
The fertile Columbia Valley is one of Washington's largest winegrowing areas, and more than a dozen wineries rejoice in the fall bounty with unique events during the annual Catch the Crush weekend (Sept. 28—30). Expect grape stomping and live jazz at Oakwood, a barbecue, tastings and live music at Terra Blanca and more. Other participants include Columbia Crest, Preston Premium Wines, Goose Ridge and Kiona. Fees vary by event; purchase a VIP ticket ($20 each) for discounts to multiple activities. For more information: www.columbiavalleywine.com/catchthecrush.htm
Lake Chelan Valley
The sizable, notable Columbia and Walla Walla Valleys overshadow this emerging wine region located in the North Cascades National Forest. But if you live here, or you're planning a fall hiking trip to the area, stop by the Lake Chelan Crush Festival (Oct. 5—14). You can drive across the valley in about 20 minutes, making it possible to visit multiple wineries in one afternoon. Offerings range from educational to entertaining: You'll learn how the sorting, crushing and pressing processes work at Nefarious Cellars, how fermentation works at Tildio and the ways in which aromas of chocolate, lemon and vanilla relate to tasting wine at Balsamroot. To try local food-and-wine pairings, visit C.R. Sandidge, Lake Chelan, Wapato Point, Vin du Lac and Campbell's Resort. Fees, locations and hours vary by event. For more information: www.lakechelanwinevalley.com
Canada
Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
What started as a tiny street parade 56 years ago has evolved into a 10-day harvest bash drawing around 60,000 revelers each year. More than 100 events will take place at this year's Niagara Wine Festival (Sept. 21—30), including winery tours, wine tastings, seminars and arts and crafts shows. For local culture, check out the Annual Pen Centre Grande Parade featuring floats, steel drum and marching bands and dancers in downtown St. Catharines (Sept. 29). To indulge in local food and wine at more than 30 venues along the Niagara Wine Route, order the Chrysler Discovery Pass ($30); participating wineries include Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, Magnotta and Pillitteri. Fees, hours and locations vary by event; the hub is Montebello Park, in St. Catharines. For information: (905) 668-0212 or www.niagarawinefestival.com
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
British Columbia's top wines come from the Okanagan Valley, and the region's Fall Wine Festival (Sept. 28—Oct. 7) rings in harvest with 165 tastings, cruises, dinners, brunches, lunches, tours and seminars. To experience the range of wines produced here, go to the Sept. 28 and 29 tastings of more than 150 bottlings or head to the grand tasting of 200 wines from 45 wineries (Oct. 5 and 6). If you're newer to wine, check out the two-hour seminar at Mission Hill on Oct. 5: After a barrel tasting and lesson on the benefits of fermenting the grape in wood, you'll create your own blend of wine to take home (www.missionhillwinery.com). Okanagan is a five-hour drive from Vancouver or a short flight from Seattle or Vancouver to Kelowna, the valley's gateway. Fees, hours and locations vary by event. For information: www.thewinefestivals.com
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California
Sonoma
You can taste up to 550 wines in three days during the Sonoma County Harvest Fair (Oct. 5—7). (Participants include Benziger, Gloria Ferrer and Kendall-Jackson.) A Friday night reception features paintings, sculpture and photographs by nearly 200 local artists, wine tastings, live music and hors d'oeuvres. Local chefs offer cooking demonstrations and samples of their specialties on Saturday and Sunday; look for Pattie Tann of Dry Creek Kitchen, Franco Dunn of Santi, Bert Smith of Bert's Desserts and Roger Praplan of La Gare Restaurant. If you're newer to wine, check out the "Everything you wanted to know about wine tasting but were afraid to ask" seminar. Fees and hours vary. Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, (707) 545-4200, www.harvestfair.org
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| Vines thrive on the lush grounds of Schramsberg, a pioneering producer of California sparkling wine. |
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Santa Barbara County
From Oct. 12 to 15, the emerging wine region of Santa Barbara County, a slice of the central California coast comprising three main appellations, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Sta. Rita Hills, will celebrate harvest with a variety of offerings. To taste wines from more than 100 area wineries, check out the Celebration of Harvest event Oct. 13 at Rancho Sisquoc, in Santa Maria. As part of the Vintners Visa program, visitors can go to 12 wineries for tastings and, in some cases, food pairings. Special events include a Friday night wine dinner at Petersen Inn created by local chef Mini Dal Fuoco, a winemaker dinner at Los Olivos Café hosted by Foxen Vineyard, barbecue and barrel samples at
Melville and a vineyard hike followed by brunch and a vertical tasting at
Buttonwood. Some events require reservations. For more information, including a calendar of events: www.sbcountywines.com
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Paso Robles
Located in the coastal mountain range of central California, Paso Robles, another up-and-coming wine region, unveils the Harvest Wine Tour from Oct. 19 to 21. More than 90 area wineries will offer unique events ranging from cooking demonstrations and dinners to grape stomping and wine tastings. Don't miss Tablas Creek, where you can tour the winery's grapevine nursery to learn how grape clones are propagated and the grafting process is done and taste 2006 Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre from barrel. Justin, another must-visit winery, will host a multicourse dinner with wine pairing, a golf tournament and a seminar on fermenting wine in various types of oak. Advance reservations may be required, depending on the event; fees, locations and hours vary. For information: (800) 549-9463 or www.pasowine.com
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Livermore Valley
Thirty-six wineries within a 45-minute drive of San Jose take part in the 26th Annual Livermore Valley Harvest Wine Celebration (Sept. 2 and 3). Check out the area's two oldest wineries, both founded in 1883: Concannon will offer tastings of Petite Sirah, Caribbean-inspired dishes, local art and a range of live music, while Wente will showcase live jazz and tastings of its Nth Degree wines, among others. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the event. Shuttle buses travel between seven winery routes and Robertson Park, the hub of the event. Robertson Park, 3200 Robertson Park Road, (925) 447-9463, www.livermorewine.com
New York
Hudson Valley
You'll drive up a long hill, passing rows of vines, before arriving at Millbrook Vineyards' 130-acre estate. The winery's harvest luncheon will take place in a tent on the main lawn Oct. 6, and every dish on chef Chris Harkness' menu will be made with New York ingredients: Long Island striped bass with Chardonnay beurre blanc with morels and confit of pear and tomato; terrine of Hudson Valley foie gras with apple brioche and hard cider reduction; lamb chops with Millbrook Tocai Friulano sauce and butternut squash spaetzle; and sweet corn brulée with poached pear compote. (Reserve Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer complete the meal.) Lunch costs $125 (plus tax) per person; make reservations by Sept. 28. Millbrook Vineyards, 26 Wing Road, Millbrook, N.Y., (800) 662-9463, ext. 17, www.millbrookwine.com
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Finger Lakes
With its modern, Greek Revival-style winery overlooking vine-dotted slopes and Seneca Lake, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars is one of the most beautiful places to taste wine in the Finger Lakes. On Nov. 3, the winery will host a sparkling wine and hors d'oeuvres reception in its barrel room, followed by a multicourse dinner paired with wine. Expect sliced duck breast over black pepper-and-parmesan risotto with dried cherry-and-sage demi glace with 2005 Cabernet Franc; frisèe, endive and shaved Brussels sprout salad with toasted pecans and a white wine-mustard vinaigrette with 2006 Gewürztraminer, poached pear Napolean with Riesling ice wine and more. Dinner is $96.12, including tax, per person; reservations are required. Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, 9224 State Route 414, Lodi, (607) 582-6011, www.lamoreauxwine.com
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Manhattan
Sonoma's 2007 vintage comes to the Big Apple Oct. 3—5. More than a dozen vineyards will offer samples of just-harvested grapes, and take part in culinary events around the city, to celebrate the region's 150 years of making wine. For food-and-wine pairings in a casual environment, head to New York University's Torch Club on Oct. 3. A more formal evening at the James Beard House offers a six-course dinner prepared by Chef Bruce Riezenman, of Park Avenue Catering Company, the next night; expect corn and cauliflower soup with Dungeness crab and coconut; pan-seared Pacific wild salmon with cheese tart and shiitake crisps; and duck confit, heirloom tomato-and-lavender coulis with Merlot jus. (Wines include 2005 Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Chardonnay, 2003 Tandem Pinot Noir and 1997 Ravenswood Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Belloni Vineyard.) For more information: www.sonomawinegrape.org/nycharvest
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Oregon
Willamette Valley
Every year more than a thousand visitors come to Willamette Valley Vineyards' Oregon Grape Stomp Championship & Harvest Celebration. Around 5 tons of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are squished during the event (the juice and skins go to the compost, not the 2007 vintage). The object is to press the most juice in two minutes, and winners in each heat compete in a "stomp off" at the end of the day. The top scorers from Saturday and Sunday go toe to toe for the chance to compete in the World Grape Stomp Championship in Santa Rosa, Calif., in October, on the winery's dime. There's also a barbecue, live rock music and tastings of current releases. The event takes place Sept. 22—23, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; make reservations in advance. Admission is $5. Willamette Valley Vineyards, 8800 Enchanted Way SE, Turner, Oregon, 800-344-9463, www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com
Texas
Grapevine
Over a quarter of a million visitors are expected to arrive in the town of Grapevine (population 42,131), sandwiched between Dallas and Fort Worth, for the annual GrapeFest (Sept. 13—16). Expect wine tastings, a grape stomp, black-tie gala dinner, a live auction, a craft show, a carnival and live music. Beyond wines from the Lone Star state, you can taste the grape from France, Italy, Australia, Spain, Germany and beyond. Think you've got what it takes to be a critic? Take part in the People's Choice Tasting Classic, where you can judge 130 different Texas wines from 37 wineries. For a taste of local cuisine, check out the food-and-wine pairing sessions and cooking demonstrations offered all weekend. Fees, locations and hours vary. Main Street, downtown Grapevine, www.grapevinetexasusa.com
Michigan
Leelanau Peninsula
Midwesterners can get in on the grape action, too. The Annual Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & Walk, in Suttons Bay, features three- to seven-mile runs (or walks), at varying levels of difficulty, along the Leelanau Peninsula wine trail. Or take a leisurely stroll along the wine trail for tastings at Bel Lago, Ciccone, Chateau Fontaine, Shady Lane and more. Run/walk starts at Ciccone Vineyards on Sept. 22. at 9 a.m.; registration is required. Fees vary. Ciccone Vineyards, 10343 E. Hilltop Road, Suttons Bay; (231) 256-2829; for more information: www.lpwines.com
