Crushin’ on Washington Wine
From Vine to Wine
For winemakers and wine lovers alike, “Crush” is that magical time of year when winemakers pick the perfect time to pluck their grapes from the vine. The term usually means harvest time in the United States and refers to when the grapes are brought in from the vineyards, sorted, and then gently broken up to release the juices, which are then allowed to macerate with the skins before and during fermentation.
Crush season at wineries throughout the state, from the Rattlesnake Hills area to Woodinville Wine Country, open their doors to eager wine enthusiasts, fans, and supporters who volunteer at the wineries’ “wine camps,” to help with tasks such as sorting, stemming, and bottling. Traditional “grape stomps” are sometimes part of the fun, although most wineries now use automated crushing machines to do the work. Contact your favorite winery to see how you can help!
Washington Crush Events and Festivals
Crush events are often full-on celebrations for many wineries across Washington State including traditional grape stomps, dinners, live music and wine tasting. Check out a few of the state’s crush celebrations this year:
- Catch the Crush Oct. 14-15, 2017
Wineries in the Rattlesnake Hills celebrate crush with Catch the Crush, an annual event in which each winery offers its own celebration with grape stomps, harvest and crush activities, tours, live music, and wine tasting.
- Lake Chelan Crush Oct. 7–8, 14–15, 2017
Join the wineries in the Lake Chelan Wine as they celebrate with the annual Crush Festival. You’re invited to taste, stomp and dance your way through two wine-filled weekends, and experience a harvest party or a winemaker dinner and share in the experience of harvest season.
Take Me to the Crush!
Need a designated driver? Make your Crush celebrations completely stress-free—let us drive. We’ll get you to your event and back home again, safely and worry-free. Shuttle Express offers many services, from black car/limousine service to private charters for wine tasting or any event. You can enjoy yourself without worrying about driving after tasting a few of those award-winning Washington wines! Reach us at our Shuttle Express sales office for more info.