2002 Washington State Vintage
A cool start, a very hot summer, and a rush of picking that began on 9 September: lower yields per acre gave richer fruit flavors.
The Washington State Wine Commission's own overview defines the 2002 harvest by its quality, with lower yields per acre resulting in richer fruit flavors. The season began cool, then warm temperatures in the mid to high 90s put the crop ahead of schedule in some areas. Picking in Washington began in a great rush on 9 September, with wineries capitalizing on a very hot summer. The usual autumn rains did not arrive, and the weather stayed warm, if not hot, throughout October. Cool weather in late September slowed harvest, a turn winemakers welcomed because it allowed fruit to mature and intensify flavors. The statewide crop was 109,750 tons.
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The 2002 growing season began cool, then warm temperatures in the mid to high 90s put the crop ahead of schedule in some areas. Across the Pacific Northwest the season started cool before early-summer temperatures in the low 30s pushed the crop ahead, and Washington wineries were capitalizing on a very hot summer. The usual autumn rains did not arrive, and the weather stayed warm, if not hot, throughout October. Picking in Washington began in a great rush on 9 September. Cool weather then arrived in late September and slowed activity, a turn winemakers welcomed because it allowed fruit to mature and intensify flavors. Lower yields per acre resulted in richer fruit flavors, and the statewide crop totaled 109,750 tons.
- The season began cool, then mid to high 90s temperatures put the crop ahead of schedule in some areas
- A cool start across the Pacific Northwest gave way to early-summer temperatures in the low 30s that pushed the crop ahead
- The usual autumn rains did not arrive, and October stayed warm, if not hot
- Picking began in a great rush on 9 September, with wineries capitalizing on a very hot summer
- Cool weather in late September slowed harvest and allowed fruit to mature and intensify flavors
- Lower yields per acre gave richer fruit flavors, on a statewide crop of 109,750 tons
- Lower yields per acre resulted in richer fruit flavors
- The growing season began cool, then warm temperatures in the mid to high 90s put the crop ahead of schedule in some areas
- The season started cool across the Pacific Northwest before early-summer temperatures in the low 30s pushed the crop ahead
- Picking in Washington began in a great rush on 9 September, with wineries capitalizing on a very hot summer
- The usual autumn rains did not arrive, and the weather stayed warm, if not hot, throughout October
- Cool weather arrived in late September and slowed harvest, which winemakers welcomed for allowing fruit to mature and intensify flavors
- The statewide crop was 109,750 tons
Quality over volume
The 2002 grape harvest is defined by its quality. Lower yields per acre resulted in richer fruit flavors, and the late-September cooling that slowed picking allowed fruit to mature and intensify flavors.
- Lower yields per acre resulted in richer fruit flavors
- The late-September cooling let fruit mature and intensify flavors
- Heat early, a cool finish late, and a harvest that started on 9 September
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See the Pivot+- The 2002 Washington growing season began cool, then warm temperatures in the mid to high 90s put the crop ahead of schedule in some areas.
- Picking in Washington began in a great rush on 9 September, with wineries capitalizing on a very hot summer.
- The usual autumn rains did not arrive and October stayed warm, if not hot; cool weather in late September slowed harvest and allowed fruit to mature and intensify flavors.
- Lower yields per acre resulted in richer fruit flavors.
- The statewide crop was 109,750 tons.
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