Polk County News
9A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 18, 2017
Airlie Winery
makes the best of
a sunny fall day
to bring in the
bounty of 2017
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
AIRLIE — Harvest season
has started, stopped and
started again this fall at Airlie
Winery.
Some of the 2017 vintage
is in barrels, while another
part still hangs in the vine-
yard, said winery owner
Mary Olson.
Monday, a harvest crew
took advantage of sunny
conditions to pick grapes
and haul them to the winery.
They may only have a few
days before rains return.
Olson said the growing sea-
son has been unusual, with a
wet spring, hot summer and
now late-season rain.
“It’s been weirder than
normal, but there is no nor-
mal,” she said as she plucked
grapes from the vines.
Seasons like this make her
grateful for the talents of the
vineyard’s winemaker, Eliza-
beth Clark.
“Not very often, but once
in a while, you get a perfect
vintage and all you can do is
mess it up,” she said. “But
most of the time it takes a lot
of skill, not only in the vine-
yard, but in the winery, as
well.”
Clark said this season’s
fruit is different that the last
couple years’ harvest, which
produced some “big, burly
wines.” She likes the chal-
lenge this season presents.
“I would imagine more
winemakers prefer the fruit
that is coming in because it
is more acid-driven, which
makes more delicate fla-
vors,” she said.
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer
Leaves on trees and vines are changing color at Airlie Hills Winery. A picking crew took advantage of favorable conditions to pick grapes on Monday.
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
One of Mary Olson’s dogs takes a break on Monday.
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Airlie Hills Winery owner Mary Olson was among those picking grapes on Monday. She
said pickers are in high demand on the ever-more infrequent dry days this season.
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