Why Cellar Season Is the Best Time to Visit Wine Country
Cellar Season is aptly named. The energy and bustle of vineyards and crushpads has moved indoors, tucked into the cool, dim wine cellars and barrel rooms where winemakers assess and reassess their vintages as the wines slowly evolve from infancy toward maturity.
Out in the vineyards, a different kind of work is underway. Vines are pruned back in preparation for the next growing season, and sheep graze between the rows. These woolly friends naturally aerate the soil, fertilize the land, and keep weeds in check. It’s yet another thoughtful way our winegrowers steward the Dundee Hills land.
“Cellar season is a time for reflection on vintages past and exploration of the wines currently in barrel,” says Jesse Lange, winemaker at Lange Estate Winery. “Guests should take full advantage of winery appointments, ask for a quick tour, or peek into the cellar. The relative calm of this season allows for deeper conversations and more learning between visitors and winery staff.”
Those who choose to visit during cellar season are often rewarded with smaller crowds, greater access to winemakers and their teams, and, in some cases, the chance to step behind the scenes. It’s a quieter and more personal way to experience wine country.
Marc Harwood, assistant winemaker at Anderson Family Vineyard, looks forward to cellar season each year and calls it an ideal time to visit. “It often allows for a more intimate experience and one-on-one time with the winemakers,” he notes. Some wineries even offer barrel tastings, where guests can sample wines straight from the barrels as they continue to develop.
During a barrel tasting, a winemaker uses a wine thief, which is a long, slender tube, to draw a small sample from the barrel. Typically reserved for lab analysis, these samples become a rare opportunity for guests to experience a snapshot of what a wine will become. During this taste of a wine mid-journey, it may seem more acidic or carry big and bold notes. That’s all completely natural at this early stage of its aging, and those elements will continue to soften and integrate as the wine matures in barrel and later on in the bottle.
Cellar season offers a rare glimpse into the often unseen parts of winemaking. For travelers seeking a more immersive, behind-the-scenes experience, this is one of the most rewarding times of year to visit wine country.
Photo by Molly Bailey
