MATTAWA - Sagemoor Farms Wahluke Slope manager Miguel Rodriguez reports a full wine grape crop of about 3,000 tons as the harvest comes to a close.

More importantly, "it's the best quality," he said last week.

Rodriguez, who was named grower of the year a couple of years ago, credits a longer than usual growing season. He noted there was early and late warm weather.

"This area has a great climate for wine grapes," he said. "There was more hanging time, and that's real good for the reds."