The fall season is fast approaching, and for the residents of Chelan County in Washington State, that could only mean one thing – Lake Chelan’s annual Crush Festival.
A yearly event that marks the start of the harvest season, Lake Chelan’s Crush Festival draws many visitors to the lake’s surrounding vineyards and wineries, making the celebration an integral part of the Lake Chelan winemaking industry.
Lake Chelan has more than 30 wineries and tasting rooms, as well as over 300 acres of vineyards – the first of which began in 1891.
Today, Lake Chelan is considered to be a federally designated wine region, courtesy of its recognition as an American Viticultural Area or AVA in 2009.
Lake Chelan is the 11th AVA to be recognized in Washington State, and is widely known for producing a wide variety of high-quality grapes including semillon, chardonnay, pinot noir, and riesling.
The Crush Festival, which takes place during the first and second weekend of October, coincides with the grape harvest, allowing guests to experience the following:
You’ll see how grapes get turned to wine – and get a history lesson in the process
One of the main highlights of the festival are the tours and wine tastings organized by the wineries and vineyards in the area, such as Tsillan Cellars, Benson Vineyards Estate Winery, Amos Rome Vineyards, and Succession Wines. These tours, often conducted by the vintners and cellar masters themselves, are designed to show visitors how grapes get turned into wine, with some vineyards even offering activities like traditional grape stomping.
More than just being entertaining, the tours are also meant to be enlightening, especially when it comes to the history of Lake Chelan’s winemaking industry.
You’ll love good food with your wine
It’s no secret that wine pairs well with food, and because of that, many local wineries have taken to organizing special culinary celebrations to mark the beginning of the harvest season. These culinary events include winemaker dinners and harvest meals.
Aside from visiting local vineyards and wineries, you can drop by local restaurants, most of which will be offering special food-and-wine pairing menus.
You’ll enjoy loads of shows and activities
As much as it is a celebration of the grape harvest, the Lake Chelan Crush Festival’s festivities are not limited to wine tastings and vineyard tours. Many of the area’s wineries and vineyards also organize family-friendly events which feature live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, visitors and residents are also welcome to partake in Lake Chelan’s usual lineup of activities – hiking, biking, and golfing – as well as more seasonal attractions like boat shows, crafting workshops, and food markets during the festival’s entire run.
While visiting Lake Chelan will always be an enjoyable endeavor, nothing beats having your very own home in this beautiful area.
If you plan to invest in your very own piece of Lake Chelan real estate, we at Coldwell Banker Lake Chelan are the Realtors to call.
Simply check out our list of Lake Chelan homes for sale, and contact us at 509.682.7777 and info(at)cbchelan(dotted)com to get started.