Stomping in the grape harvest

Fall is a beautiful time in the Mid-Columbia, so don't miss out on opportunities to get out and enjoy the fine wines produced in the region, watch the grape harvest and chat with winemakers and winery owners.

Traditionally, members of the Columbia Valley Winery Association have celebrated the harvest with a special Catch the Crush weekend. While there's no formal event this year, many wineries in the Columbia and Yakima valleys are honoring the tradition by dubbing Sept. 26-27 Catch the Crush weekend.

Each winery will celebrate the harvest in its own way, including offering winery tours, samples of free run juice, live music, grape stomps or hors d'oeuvres. The one thing they all have in common -- of course -- is wine tasting.

Many wineries will be introducing new releases and in the case of Badger Mountain Vineyard & Powers Winery in Kennewick, a new wine club. At Terra Blanca Vintners in Benton City, lunch will be available for purchase from the award-winning kitchen of Chef Frank Mangana, owner of Picazo 7seventeen in Prosser.

Eppie Skelton, owner of Oakwood Cellars in Benton City, has really caught the Catch the Crush spirit. She's invited several vendors to set up booths, including The Educated Cigar and Sagegold Soaps. The Rachel Bade-McMurphy jazz band will play in the afternoon both days. Caterers will be on site cooking up some delicious fare.

But best of all, at 4 p.m. Saturday, there will be an old-fashioned grape stomp. Want to squash some grapes? Sign up at the winery by 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

At Barnard Griffin in Richland, both days you can sample salsas -- take some home too -- and watch a stone artisan take a raw rock and turn it into a beautiful paperweight. His work will be for sale.

According to the winery association's website, participating wineries include: 360 Cellars and Anelare, both in Kennewick; Barnard Griffin Winery, Bookwalter Winery, Goose Ridge Estate Winery and Tagaris Winery, all in Richland; Buckmaster Cellars, Canon De Sol, Hightower Cellars, Kiona Winery, Oakwood Cellars, Sandhill Winery, Seth Ryan Winery, Tapteil Vineyard Winery and Terra Blanca Vintners, all in Benton City; and Columbia Crest in Paterson.

Hours for Catch the Crush are generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a few opening earlier or staying open later. There will be no VIP tickets for Catch the Crush.

Other wineries celebrating the harvest and crushing of the grapes include:

-- Preston Premium Wines a few miles north of Pasco off Highway 395 will release its 12 Days of Christmas collection. The collection of 12 bottles of cabernet-syrah blend each sport a label corresponding to one of the days in The 12 Days of Christmas carol. Sold in case lots only, the collection is only available at the winery.

-- Gordon Brothers outside Pasco off the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway will be open special hours: 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

-- Badger Mountain Vineyard & Powers Wineries will be introducing a wine club and new releases.

-- Milbrandt Vineyards in Prosser will have live music on the patio from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday.

-- Anelare's production facility (at Canon de Sol, 46415 E. Badger Road, Benton City) and the tasting studio, 3617 Plaza Way, Suite B, in Kennewick will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

On these busy weekends, be sure to take your own glass or plan on purchasing one at your first winery.

Wineries don't charge for admittance but may charge a tasting fee.

-- On the net: http://columbiavalleywine.com/catchthecrush.htm;
http://wineyakimavalley.org;
www.rattlesnakehills.com;
www.horseheavenhillswinegrowers.org;
www.winepressnw.com;
www.localwineevents.com.

*Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com.