It’s crush season in Washington, a time when grape growers and winemakers are usually very busy, working insane hours to make new wine. 

But a huge percentage of the state’s highest quality wine won't get made this year. 

Sluggish wine sales have meant growers are letting some of their best fruit rot, sometimes right on the vine.

And Washington growers and winemakers alike are concerned about the future of their businesses. 

We talk about what's behind the wine glut.

Guest

Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

It&rsquo;s crush season in Washington, a time when grape growers and winemakers are usually very busy, working insane hours to make new wine.&nbsp;
But a huge percentage of the state&rsquo;s highest quality wine won't get made this year.&nbsp;
Sluggish wine sales have meant growers are letting some of their best fruit rot, sometimes right on the vine.
And Washington growers and winemakers alike are concerned about the future of their businesses.&nbsp;
We talk about what's behind&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nwpb.org/local/2025-09-24/grape-glut-too-much-wine-across-the-world-leaves-tons-of-u-s-grapes-rotting-this-crush-season">the wine glut.</a>
Guest
Anna King, senior correspondent for Northwest Public Broadcasting&nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

The wine glut has come to Washington, and wine growers and sellers are concerned about the future of their businesses.

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