A sure sign for my husband and me that summer is winding down is the annual Harvest Party at one of our favorite Walla Walla wineries, Spring Valley Vineyards. The Bordeaux-style red wines produced from estate-grown grapes are absolutely outstanding, but we also love the history behind this family-run winery and the true Western hospitality and graciousness this multi-generation operation extend to their wine club (“Family Circle”) members. Six generations of Cockrums and Derbys have farmed the rolling hills outside of Walla Walla in southwestern Washington state, with wheat the predominant crop until the 1990s, when the first grapevines were planted side by side with the wheat fields. Every August, wine club members are invited out to the family ranch for a free, celebratory dinner served in view of the golden, stubble-carpeted, recently harvested wheat fields and the 111 acres of lush green vines laden with soon-to-be picked clusters of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Malbec grapes.

The evening begins with appetizer stations offering imported and domestic cheeses, antipasto, crackers, dips, spreads and seasonal vegetables and fruits, and all the currently released wines are freely poured. A trio of musicians plays folk and bluegrass tunes until family patriarch Dean Derby rings the big iron triangle, welcomes his guests and invites them to step up to the buffet.

This year local restaurant/caterer Olive served up a feast fit for the    Old West: barbecue pulled pork, tri-tip steak, cheddar mac & cheese, coleslaw, creamy potato salad and the most refreshing watermelon salad I’ve ever tasted. Winery staff circulated constantly around the tables of eight, happy to pour whatever guests requested. Our group of four enjoyed conversation with the two other couples at our table who, though we’d never met before, felt like old friends by the time we got to our dessert of peach-cherry cobbler, cheesecakes and assorted dessert bars.

We’ve found at these sort of events that a popular topic of conversation (besides wine, of course) is travel, and it’s always a pleasure to exchange favorite destinations and travel tips and stories. It’s difficult to bid farewell to summer, but taking part in end-of-season events like our favorite Harvest Party make the transition to fall a little easier!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor