Harvest has properly arrived!

Finally! It’s been a late one up here in Oregon. Pinot is rolling in by the tons, literally. Guadalupe Vineyard arrived first, with Legacy Hill a close second. It smells and feels like Harvest 2010, with our Syrah fermenting happily, Pinot Noir cold soaking and Chardonnay being pressed. Needless to say, we’re quite busy around the winery. We’ve even found time for bottling our 2008 Winery Hill, with prized 2008 Monogram in line for tomorrow. Happy harvesting! Ready. Set. GO! - Rachel Zasadni, Lab QC Technician

Fruit at last!

Starting October 4th we are finally getting our hands red and sticky. We received Syrah from Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Oregon, and it looked beautiful. All of us in the cellar are very excited to get the ball rolling on harvest and make some fine wines for the 2010 vintage. We are ready to fill all our perfectly cleaned tanks with juice and must. Cheers to the start of 2010 vintage. Pinot is next! – Robin, Harvest Intern

We are waiting for you, Grapes!

I can’t believe it’s been almost 2 months since I arrived in Oregon. All of us interns are getting ready for harvest. Everything in the winery should be shining before receiving any fruit. Our first grape experience in Domaine Serene will be syrah. This is one of my favorite varieties, by the way. I just love its complex aroma and deep color. We already got some samples of the grapes from Walla Walla Valley and the rose colored juice looked wonderful. So after a few weeks of bottling it is nice to have a break and work on some vintage preparation. We split into teams to be more efficient and I think we are doing really well and moving quickly. Moving around all our picking bins and fermentation tubs provide forklift practice since most of us are still beginners. It’s a very useful, but dangerous vehicle. Be careful everyone and always wear your seat belt! We are getting excited to know what everyone’s harvest assignment will be. I know there will be more than enough work for all of us once those grapes arrive.

Domaine Serene provides wonderful housing, just a vineyard’s stroll away from the winery. We walk up the hill every day to the cellar so by the time we start working we are already warmed up. It is actually very beautiful to walk by the vineyards and see how they ripen day by day.
This past weekend was our last whole weekend off. We explored the area, recharged our batteries and got ready for the impending Syrah!

It is my forth vintage, but my first one in Oregon and I can’t wait to see the whole process between grapes and wine in this region. – Lidyia, Harvest Intern