Harvest is Officially Here

The very first grapes of the 2025 season landed at Holesinsky on September 9th, Pinot Gris from our friends at Cold Springs Winery. And just like that, harvest was officially here.

Winemaker, Neil, unloaded the first grapes of 2025 Harvest

The first day of harvest usually comes with a little chaos. People bouncing between jobs, lots of energy, and the whole place feels like a party with a million moving parts. This year had a whole different feel. It was calm, steady, and honestly the chillest kickoff we have ever had.

Maybe that is what happens after 32 harvests for Neil and 22 for James. When you have done it that many times, calm looks a lot like confidence. Practice makes… chill? 😉

James and Neil during Harvest in the early 2000s

When Neil pulled in with the truck, we all climbed onto the back to see the very first batch of grapes for the 2025 harvest. And of course we sampled the grapes. The first thing said out loud was, “I always forget Pinot Gris grapes are red.” It’s easy to forget, since Pinot Gris is a white wine, but the grapes themselves are red.

Caitlin Holesinsky getting first glimpse of the 2025 Harvest of Pinot Gris

So why not make it a red wine? Historically, Pinot Gris has been treated like its close cousin Pinot Noir, but winemakers noticed the juice inside the grape is light in color. By pressing it off the skins right away, you get that crisp, refreshing white style that became popular centuries ago in Alsace, France and Northern Italy. That tradition stuck, and now Pinot Gris is almost always made as a white wine. Leave the juice on the skins, and you’d end up with something more like a rosé or a light red. But the world fell in love with the bright, clean version we know today.

With the grapes in, it was time to raise a glass. We poured Sparkling Unicorn Rosé and toasted to the start of the 2025 vintage before diving into crush. After a year away, there are always a few “wait, which switch again?” moments, but it all comes back fast. Plus, we had some shiny new gear to break in, so the crew was extra excited. The whole day was smooth, the mood was high, and it felt like the perfect way to kick off the season.

Pinot Gris going through the press

And around here, harvest isn’t just about the work. It’s about celebrating the fruit, the season, and the people who make it all happen. That’s why every year we throw our biggest bash of the year —the Grape Stomp Harvest Party. Grape stomping, live music, food trucks, local vendors, and plenty of wine.

2025 Grape Stomp Harvest Party

Consider this your officially invitation: join us on Saturday, September 27 from 12–8 PM at Holesinsky to celebrate harvest with us. Click here for the full event details.

Cheers to harvest 2025! It’s already off to an incredible start. 🥂