When it comes to knowing the right time to harvest, there are a lot of variables. Seasonal weather is a factor. So is a grape’s position in the vineyard. Different varieties are, of course, picked at different times. But we also pick the same varieties at different times, depending on what we want to do with the fruit. If this is starting to feel like complex puzzle, fear not. Here’s how we know when our grapes are reaching ripeness, and the order in which we pick them.
How we know when our grapes are ripe
While there might not be a consistent calendar, there are some telltale signs that a grape is getting ready to fulfill its destiny.
- Berry color: When grapes change color (most obvious in red grape varieties) they’ve reached a stage called veraison, the first sign that they’re on their way to ripeness. We’re not there yet, however. It can take weeks or months of hang time for the fruit to fully ripen.
- Berry fullness: A ripe grape is plump, juicy and pulls easily from the cluster. An underripe grape is smaller and harder. An overripe grape will start to shrivel.
- Stem and seed color: In many varieties, both stems and seeds will turn brown as they ripen.
- Grape taste: A ripe grape is sweet. The flesh, skin and seeds won’t be bitter. Seeds will break easily when chewed. When grapes are fully ripe, you can taste the characteristics specific to each varietal.
- Bird trespassers: Wildlife likes fruit, too. When the birds start hanging around, it’s a good sign that grapes are getting ripe. It’s also a good sign that it’s time to put up our Bird Gard audio repellers.
- Technical measurement: Finally, we can utilize some scientific tools to determine if grapes have reached the perfect picking ripeness. We can test to make sure the sugar-acid balance is where we want it. We can also measure pH level and titratable acid to determine acidity. It’s less fun than tasting grapes where we can observe seed ripeness, but possibly more accurate.
When we harvest our grapes, and in what order
Generally, harvest begins in late August and continues through early November. Here’s how we expect this year to shake out.
- August: Late in the month, we’ll begin picking Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, purposely underripe, for sparkling wine. This helps maintain a balanced acidity in the finished wine.
- September: A few weeks after our sparkling wine harvest, we’ll commence picking the remaining Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for still wine. We’ll also harvest our Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer grapes this month.
- October: October will be busy. This is when we begin to pick our Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. It’s also harvest time for Riesling. Rkatsiteli is picked last, from the end of October through early November.
- November: The last of our Bordeaux varieties and Rkatsiteli are harvested. Picking is complete.
Harvest is beautiful, exciting, and hectic. It’s the culmination of what we’ve worked for all year. We invite you to visit us during this magical season. Take a tour, stroll the vineyards or set up a picnic on our grounds. We’ll provide the wine.
