Fall is in full swing, the leaves are changing, and temperatures are cooling down. As a winery, it’s our favorite season. Why? It’s harvest season! Keep reading to learn more about harvest season and how we do it at Acquaviva!
Harvest Season
What is Harvest Season?
This is the time of year when grapes are picked and brought in from vineyards to be made into wine. Harvest season generally lasts from late August through October, depending on the region. During this time, winemakers are busy overseeing the grapes as they ripen on the vine and making sure they are picked at the perfect time. Once the grape is picked, it will no longer ripen.
Late Harvest
Late Harvest is when the grapes stay on the vine after it has reached their peak ripeness. This allows for more sugar to be retained within the grape, which in turn will make the wines that the grape produces a little bit sweeter, which means the sweeter the wine, the later it is harvested!
What Happens to the Vineyard
After harvest, vineyards need to be pruned. This involves trimming back the vines to promote growth and prevent disease. Vines are typically pruned once every two years. The fall season is also a good time to fertilize the vineyard. This helps the vines get the nutrients they need to survive the winter and produce a bountiful crop in the spring. Finally, growers must keep an eye on the weather in the fall. Heavy rains can damage grapevines, so growers must be prepared to take action if necessary. Excess rain can cause grapes to have more water at harvest and decrease sugar levels.
Grape Harvest
Order of Grape Harvest
The first grape to be harvested are sparkling wine grapes (Chardonnay, Prosecco, Pinot Noir, etc.). These are harvested first because of lower sugar levels. Next is red wine grapes, then ice wines are last.
Grape Harvest Options
One of the great things about grape harvests is that there are a variety of ways to go about it. If you’re looking for a more traditional harvest, you can opt for manual picking. This involves sending workers out into the vineyard to hand-pick the grapes. However, if you’re looking for a more efficient way to harvest, you can use mechanical harvesters. These machines strip the grapes from the vines and are much faster than manual picking.
Wine harvest season is a busy time for winemakers, but it’s also a fun and exciting time. There’s nothing quite like the taste of freshly-picked grapes, and what better way than to see it in action and taste the freshly picked grapes with a wine tasting and tour at Acquaviva! Schedule yours today! Visit Acquaviva Winery and Vineyard today! Head over to our website to learn more.
