When is grape harvest season in Washington?

Table grape u-pick at Washington farms runs late August through September. Wine grape harvest across the Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, and Walla Walla runs September through October — Riesling and sparkling base varieties are picked first, Cabernet Sauvignon last.

Can you pick grapes at Washington wineries?

Most Washington wineries don't offer public u-pick for wine grapes — harvest is handled by professional crews. What wineries do offer during crush season are harvest dinners, barrel tastings, and vineyard tours. For u-pick grapes (table varieties for eating), look to farms like Stutzman Ranch in Wenatchee or Hansen's Green Bluff Orchard near Spokane.

What's the difference between wine grapes and table grapes for u-pick?

Wine grapes are small, seedy, and intensely concentrated — made for fermenting, not eating. Table grapes grown at u-pick farms are larger, seedless, and sweet. When a Washington farm lists grapes as a u-pick crop on Gather Grove, it's always table grape varieties.

Washington Grape Harvest 2026 — U-Pick & Wine Country Guide

June 11, 2026 · 8 min read

Washington is America's second-largest wine-producing state, with over 900 wineries across the Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, and Walla Walla. But the harvest experience here isn't just for wine tourists — u-pick table grape farms offer a different way in, no tasting room required.

When is grape harvest in Washington?

Washington grape harvest runs late August through October, with a clear progression by type:

Table grapes (u-pick)— Late August through September. Table varieties at farms like Stutzman Ranch in Wenatchee and Hansen's Green Bluff Orchard ripen alongside apples and pears for a multi-crop picking day.
Wine grape harvest — September through October. Sparkling base varieties and Riesling go first; Cabernet Sauvignon is typically the last to be picked, often into November in warm vintages.
Crush season — Mid-September through October. Wineries across the Yakima Valley open up for barrel tastings and vineyard tours during crush.

Wine grapes vs. table grapes: Wine grapes are small, seedy, and intensely concentrated — they're made for fermenting, not eating. U-pick farms grow table grape varieties: larger, seedless, and sweet. When a farm on Gather Grove lists grapes as a u-pick crop, it's always table grapes.

U-pick grape farms in Washington

Table grape u-pick is rarer than apple or cherry u-pick in Washington — most grape acreage goes to wine production. The farms below offer genuine u-pick table grape access alongside other crops.

Washington wine regions worth knowing

Yakima Valley— Washington's oldest AVA and home to some of the state's most established wineries. Riesling, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the standout varieties.
Columbia Valley — The umbrella AVA covering most of eastern Washington. Long sunny days and sandy soils produce fruit-forward reds; Walla Walla and Red Mountain are sub-AVAs within this region.
Walla Walla— Washington's most celebrated wine destination. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah dominate; tasting rooms line the downtown streets and the mill district.
Lake Chelan — A newer AVA gaining recognition for Pinot Gris, Riesling, and cold-climate reds grown at altitude above the lake.

How to pick grapes

How to read ripeness, use clippers safely, and store your harvest.

Grape harvest guide →

When is grape harvest in Washington?

U-pick grape farms in Washington

Wenatchee Valley

Green Bluff (Spokane area)

Puget Sound

Columbia Gorge (WA)

Washington wine regions worth knowing

How to pick grapes