When grape harvest comes it is an all day, every day job. In the old days it was a hand picking job. Now it's a little easier with picking machines. But there are still breakdowns. Rollers going out, bearings going out, hydraulics not working, lights not working. I think the funnest part is sitting in the leaf picking chair having frogs jumping out (along with a few snakes wizzing by).
After beating the grapes off the vine with the pickers. They are captured into gondolas, then dumped into containers sitting on the flat beds. The flat beds are then taken to town to the juice plants. But don't think it's that easy growing grapes, and getting them to town to get a check.
It all starts in late winter with pruning and knowing how many buds to leave on the vine. Knowing how many buds is the most important. A grower wants consecutive production. No highs and lows, or bills won't get paid. And water supply is the next major obstacle. We live in a desert and if there is no snow in the Cascade Mountains were our water supply comes from, then crops are lower. Because we have to cut back to get across all of our fields. We have to know soil conditions, pest conditions, and more. Farmers should be considered the pioneers of science.
But after all this work we do relax. Grandview is known for the Grandview Grape Stomp. In the old days it was down town. Now Grandview holds the Grape Stomp at the Vintecology Center by the Lower Yakima Valley Communtiy College. Everyone gets together and wine tastes and competes who can stomp grapes the fastest. Come join us next year.
Northwest Wine Country Real Estate Inc.
101 E. Wine Country Rd.
Grandview WA 98930
509.882.2001
