There is a certain feeling that settles over the vineyard as summer begins to give way to fall. The days grow a little shorter, the mornings a little cooler, and the grapes hanging from each vine have transformed from tiny green berries into clusters bursting with color, flavor, and promise. At Rivaura, it means one thing, that harvest is here.
Harvest is the culmination of an entire year’s worth of work. Every decision made throughout the growing season—from winter pruning and spring shoot thinning to canopy management, irrigation, and fruit thinning has been leading to this moment. It’s the reward for months of dedication, patience, and careful stewardship of the vineyard.
Unlike many people imagine, harvest isn’t determined by the calendar. It’s determined by the fruit. Our vineyard team spends weeks walking the rows, tasting berries, measuring sugar levels, monitoring acidity, and evaluating flavor development. The goal isn’t simply ripe grapes, it’s grapes that have reached the perfect balance to express the unique character of the Lewis-Clark Valley and the Rivaura estate.
Once that moment arrives, the pace changes almost overnight. Harvest mornings begin while temperatures are still cool, helping preserve the fruit’s freshness before it makes its way to the winery. Each block and variety is picked at its own ideal moment, sometimes over several weeks, ensuring every wine receives the attention it deserves. It’s a demanding time, but also one of the most rewarding seasons of the year.
For many of us, harvest is our favorite time in the vineyard. There’s an incredible energy that comes from seeing months of work come together. The sound of laughter echoing through the vines, lugs filling with fruit, tractors moving through the rows, and the first loads on their way, all signal the beginning of another vintage. It’s a reminder that great wine is never rushed, it is earned one season at a time.
Harvest is also one of the best opportunities to experience vineyard life firsthand. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to pick wine grapes or wanted to be part of the excitement of harvest, we’d love to have you join us. Volunteers are always welcome to help during harvest, no experience necessary, just a willingness to work, have fun, and be part of creating the next vintage of Rivaura wines. If you’re interested in volunteering for harvest, please contact Lane Hewett at lane@rivaura.com for more information and to be added to the harvest call list.
As another vintage begins, we’re reminded that every bottle tells a story long before it’s opened. It starts in the vineyard, among the vines, with the people who dedicate themselves to bringing each harvest to life.
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