Harvest at Township 7 Vineyards & Winery is a celebratory time, a changing of the season when months of careful, sustainable tending finally comes to fruition. But it’s not simply about raising a glass here, east of Vancouver in the province’s Fraser Valley. Not when you offer convivial alfresco experiences that promise to get your hands — and feet — dirty.
Locals are invited to help us bring in this year’s grape harvest or “La Vendange”, which in all cultures signifies not just the picking of grapes but a cause for celebration. The bounty from an incredible (and earliest ever) vintage, which culminates with extended families and friends gathering to bring in the harvest and then celebrate with a traditional feast.
To start, October 6 marks our annual Harvest Party, an in-the-vineyard outing with winemaker Bradley Cooper that pairs proper grape harvest techniques (you’ll pluck and prune Chardonnay and Pinot Noir gems) with a delectable fall lunch. On the menu: local Fraser Valley cuisine matched with some of Township 7’s finest pours.
Our festive Grape Stomp follows October 19, a family-friendly crowd-pleaser that pits teams of six against one other in a flurry of footwork to see which crew is first to fill a half-case of wine. Backed by live music, and complete with an outdoor wine bar and barbecue, this competition in the vineyard will do more than raise the heart rate, as all Grape Stomp proceeds support the local Critter Care Wildlife Society.