Wrong. Winemaking is an agricultural act, and farming can be stressful. One's crop is always in question. And conditions change with the winds--literally--so improvisation and preparation are imperative.
Dana Tims, who covers the local wine industry for The Oregonian says Willamette Valley winemakers are looking at an extremely late harvest this fall, and with it, a multitude of challenges.
"Last year was my latest ever in 25 harvests in Oregon," said Joe Dobbes, owner of Dobbes Family Estate in Dundee. "This year, we're behind even that. Now we are looking at the first few weeks in October as being pivotal."
"The fear of a really wet fall is always worrisome," said Steve Price, a Monroe-based vineyard consultant. "The later the fruit has to hang, the less leeway there is."
"In 35 years of growing grapes, this is the most challenging year I've ever faced in terms of ripening," said Hal Medici, founder of Medici Vineyards in Newberg. "It's been a crazy year."
Some growers, like Lange Estate (featured in the video above), are hand-pulling leaves from vineyard canopies to expose their grapes to the sun and boost the number of heat units needed to ripen -- a decision that can add dd up to $200 per acre in farming costs.










