Harvest is On! | Visit McMinnville

A winemaker interview and harvest outlook with Anna Matzinger

A woman puts an instrument into a wine barrel. She is racking the wine. — *Winemaker Anna Matzinger is racking a vintage from a previous year.*

This year’s grape harvest in Oregon’s Willamette Valley has been a breath of fresh air for winemakers like Anna Matzinger, who resides in McMinnville. In a recent interview, Anna shared her thoughts on the unique conditions of this year’s vintage and the positive impact cooler temperatures have had on the process. “This year, we’ve been given the gift of time slowing down,” she said, contrasting the pace of this season with previous years marked by intense heat and shorter growing seasons.

Anna explained that hotter summers in recent years have led vintners in the region to anticipate higher temperatures and increasingly compressed harvest schedules. This trend puts pressure on winemakers to make important decisions, such as when to pick the grapes, begin fermentation, barrelling, and even logistics on how to manage picking bins, fermenters, and more.

A man drives a forklift that is carrying a large container full of grapes. Behind him is a vineyard bathed in golden light as the sun rises. — *Early morning harvest at Atticus Wine. Photo by Aaron Lee.*

However, in 2024, cooler temperatures have provided much-needed relief for both growers and the vines themselves. The early September rain, rather than being a hindrance, was actually a blessing, as it helped reduce stress on the grapevines. “The vines didn’t give up,” she noted, referencing how extreme heat can cause plants to stop ripening. Instead, the cooler temps allowed the grapes to continue ripening in a more even, measured way.

According to Anna, the extra time provided by this year’s weather is invaluable, as it allows winemakers to be more deliberate in their approach. “80-90% of winemaking decisions happen in the 2-3 weeks leading up to harvest,” she said. With a slower ripening process, vintners have more flexibility and are better equipped to make proactive choices rather than being reactive.

An aerial shot of a group of people standing around a large container filled with green grapes. They sort the grapes. — *Sorting grapes. Photo by Carolyn Wells-Kramer*.

This extended ripeness trajectory—where sugar development and fruit flavors align smoothly with floral, spice, and other flavor elements, which Anna charmingly calls the flavors “holding hands”—results in a more complex and balanced wine. In contrast, warmer years often push fruit flavors to the forefront, leaving less room for other nuanced flavors to develop.

Anna emphasized her annual excitement of welcoming the international community of winemaking interns who flock to McMinnville every year. With visitors from countries like Germany, France, and Chile, she encourages locals to extend a warm welcome to these visitors and learners who contribute to the region’s rich winemaking culture.

Someone is pouring a glass of white Matzinger Davies wine. — *Matzinger Davies wine is the perfect compliment to any meal. Photo by Kelsey Chance.*

The 2024 vintage promises to be a special one, thanks to the convergence of ideal weather and the collaborative spirit of Willamette Valley winemaking.

For more information on the the 2024 harvest, visit: willamettewines.com/plan-your-visit/seasons/harvest

For more information on McMinnville winemaker Anna Matzinger, and her wine brand Matzinger-Davies, visit: matzingerdavies.com or @matzingerdavies

Kitri Culbertson (she/her) is a local writer and owner of Scarlet Communications. She has worked in various positions in the Oregon wine industry, including area founders Sokol Blosser Winery, and now helps wineries share what makes their brands stand out. Her favorite Matzinger-Davies wine is the Unabridged Sauvignon Blanc.