Behind the Scenes of Harvest Season

Harvest season is the heartbeat of any winery, the time when everything our growers have worked toward all year finally comes to fruition. For the HWSD wine club family, we wanted to give you a peek behind the scenes, because every bottle you open is more than wine. It’s a story of people, place, and passion.

Waiting for the Perfect Wine Moment

The weeks leading up to harvest are full of anticipation. Every day, wine growers walk the rows, tasting berries, checking sugar levels, and measuring acidity. It’s a balancing act in waiting for the grapes to be just right without letting them hang too long. Sometimes Mother Nature keeps us on edge with a late heat wave or an unexpected cool snap, but that’s part of the art of winemaking. The perfect moment to begin harvest is never chosen by a calendar, but by the vines themselves!

Harvest Days: Grit & Grapes

When harvest begins, the vineyard comes alive before the sun even rises. Headlamps bob between the vines, bins clatter, and laughter carries through the crisp morning air. Picking grapes in the cool hours helps preserve their freshness and delicate flavors!

Some blocks are hand-harvested, where every cluster is carefully clipped and sorted by hand, a labor of love that ensures only the best grapes make it into your wine. Other parcels are harvested by machine, efficient and precise, perfect for larger lots. Either way, the vineyard is buzzing with energy, teamwork, and a shared sense of purpose.

   

From Vineyard to Winery

Once the grapes are picked, they’re rushed to the winery. Here, the real transformation begins. Clusters move across sorting tables where our team removes leaves and imperfect fruit. Only the very best grapes continue on to the crush.

This is where the magic starts: grapes become juice, juice becomes fermenting must, and fermentation begins shaping the future character of the wine. To us, it’s a blend of science and artistry like temperature control, yeast selection, and timing all play critical roles in developing the flavors you’ll one day savor in your glass.

The People Behind the Pour

Harvest is a true team effort. Vineyard crews work tirelessly, cellar hands keep the process moving smoothly, and our growers make quick decisions that will define the vintage for years to come! Volunteers, friends, and seasonal workers also join in as everyone is united by the excitement of harvest!

Every cluster of grapes that becomes part of your wine has been touched by this collective effort. When you sip from one of our bottles, you’re tasting the dedication of many hands and hearts.

 

Why Harvest Matters to Your Glass

Every choice made during harvest shapes your wine. Perfectly timed cabernet means rich fruit and bold structure, while earlier-picked chardonnay creates crisp, citrusy notes. This year’s reds are full and concentrated, thanks to warm days and cool nights; whites shine with freshness, a result of the cooler season. Each bottle in your box directly reflects the vineyard, weather, and key choices made during harvest.

Harvest season is the most challenging, rewarding, and magical time of the year. As one of our wine club members, you’re part of this journey with us! So the next time you open a bottle, take a moment to picture the early mornings in the vineyard, the laughter echoing through the cellar, and the dedication of the people who brought that wine to life! In every glass, the spirit of harvest lives on. Cheers to you, our extended family, for being part of the story!