Harvest Begins
Every September, the Dundee Hills transforms. The vineyards—quiet for most of the summer—suddenly spring into motion. Crews appear in the rows, tractors rumble along the hillsides, and bins begin to stack high. The air carries a mix of crisp morning coolness and the sweet, heady scent of ripening grapes. There's a shared urgency among every vineyard and winery in the region: harvest has arrived, and the race is on.
At Knudsen Vineyards, we've been watching this moment build all season long.
The 2025 Growing Season: Steady, Then Spectacular
This year's growing season has been one of steady patience, punctuated by moments of brilliance. Mild, even temperatures allowed the fruit to ripen at a graceful pace, while a few well-timed heat waves concentrated flavors and deepened color. The vines have stayed lush and green—remarkably vibrant for this stage in the year—and the clusters are abundant, each one promising a wealth of character. Watching them grow from tiny green berries into full, ripe grapes has been a season-long reward.
When Harvest Happens, Every Hour Counts
In winemaking, timing isn't just important—it's everything. Once the grapes reach their ideal balance of sugar, acidity, and flavor, the clock starts ticking. Wait too long and the wine's potential slips away; pick too soon and it hasn't yet arrived.
During harvest, the Dundee Hills feels like one enormous, coordinated production. Crews move in a constant rhythm, sometimes late into the night, their headlamps glowing faintly between the vines. Grapes are picked and delivered to the winery within hours, where they're sorted, pressed, and prepared for fermentation. The gentle snap of shears, the rustle of leaves, and the steady hum of equipment all merge into a kind of harvest symphony—a blend of discipline, teamwork, and just a little controlled chaos.
Vinovate: A Partner in Craft and Sustainability
Helping guide this critical process is our winemaking partner, Vinovate, led by Managing Partner and Winemaker, Bryan Weil. Bryan's path began in culinary school, where a wine and food pairing course sparked a deep appreciation for Oregon Pinot Noir. That spark led him to Oregon State University, where he earned his degree in Enology and Viticulture with a minor in chemistry—a rare combination of sensory intuition and technical expertise.
Vinovate is a local custom crush facility whose approach mirrors our own commitment to innovation and sustainability. The entire facility is solar-powered, they use rainwater collection for cleaning and landscaping, all the waste (pomace) from the winemaking process gets composted to enrich the soils, and top it all of they are Certified Organic in their winemaking practices.
This partnership allows us to respect the land, honor the fruit, and craft wines of exceptional quality.
The Celebration: A Tradition Rooted in the 1970s
After the rush of harvest, we celebrate—and we've been doing so for more than half a century. For the Knudsen family, harvest gatherings began in the 1970s, when friends, neighbors, and fellow wine lovers would join among the vines to toast the season's work. Music and laughter spilled across the rows back then, just as they do now.
Today's harvest party carries that same spirit forward, with elegant touches befitting the wines themselves. Guests wander between tasting stations, savor chef-prepared dishes, and listen to live music drifting over the Dundee Hills. Interactive activities offer a closer connection to the winemaking process, while the golden autumn light bathes the vineyard in warmth. It is the perfect close to the year's most exciting—and exhausting—weeks.
The countdown has begun. In just days, the shears will clip the first clusters, and the 2025 vintage will begin its journey from vine to wine. We invite you to follow along—and, if you can, to join us in the celebration.
