Barbara Glover

Harvest events are an integral part of the winemaking tradition. They mark the celebration of the culmination of months of hard work in the vineyard, with the anticipation of a healthy and plentiful harvest. For winemakers, the hard work is just beginning, and you have an opportunity for an inside view of what that work is. Three local wineries offer a sell-out event each year focusing on the harvest experience.

Yakima Valley wineries are bringing in their grape haul for the 2023 harvest. The fruit is spectacular, with exceptional color and flavors. Winemakers are anticipating this year’s vintage will feature intense, complex wines. As a growing region, I talk about the Yakima Valley’s exceptional soils and vast day-to-night temperature shifts, but what about the overall temperatures found in the region? Heat and sunshine are two vital attributes to growing wine grapes.

Our Seattle Mariners’ remarkable run is making the American League playoff race very interesting. What a time to enjoy Mariners baseball. My husband and I had the opportunity to cheer on our home team during their recent homestand at T-Mobile Park. I’m not the biggest baseball fan, but who doesn’t love to cheer on the local team? We went, we cheered, and we won. Feeling good about the day, we headed back to the car. As we walked south of the stadium, we passed EFESTE’s Sodo Seattle tasting room.