Everything You Need To Know About the Upcoming Wine Grape Harvest Season

Autumn is closing in, and this change in the weather marks the beginning of the wine grape harvesting season in the Northern Hemisphere. Thousands of wineries around the world are expecting 2023 to be a wonderful vintage given the weather patterns and temperatures, so this harvest season should be an interesting one to observe. As exciting as harvest season is, however, the work that goes into harvesting the grapes and monitoring their quality is rather tedious. Even the most minute details of a vineyard’s grape harvest can greatly influence the flavor profiles of the wine, be it positively or negatively. To help you stay in the know with all the happenings of this harvest season, let’s take a look at the fundamentals of grape harvesting as well as the details that growers look for when inspecting their grapes.

Inspecting Every Grape Before The Harvest is Key

Before the harvest can begin, it’s important for the growers to ensure that their grapes have fully ripened. There are two different qualities of ripeness that growers look for prior to harvesting: the sweetness level and physiological ripeness. The sweetness level of wine grapes, which is measured in Brix, is entirely responsible for determining the alcoholic content of the wine that the grapes are made into. Higher levels of Brix results in a higher ABV, thus affecting the overall taste of the wine. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, found in a number of incredible wines such as the 2016 Companion Cabernet Sauvignon, are often harvested at 26 Brix. Physiological ripeness also plays a major role in the characteristics of wine grapes. Growers check for physiological ripeness by inspecting their grapes’ stems, vines, and seeds, which are natural carriers of flavor-influencing tannins. Ripened stems and leaves will cause a higher presence of tannins in the finished product, so harvesting wine grapes at the right time is crucial to achieving the perfect flavor.

Different Grapes Require Different Harvesting Periods

Wine can be made from a variety of different grapes, and these grapes are harvested at different intervals to ensure that the ripening process has been completed. In the Northern Hemisphere, the wine harvest begins in mid-August and can last until late October depending on the grape. For example, pinot noir grapes used in champagnes such as Guy de Chassey Champagne Cuvée Nicolas D’Olivet are often harvested the earliest of all grapes. The harvesting process for pinot noir grapes begins in mid-August and ends in mid-September. Conversely, cabernet sauvignon grapes are harvested near the end of the traditional wine harvesting period. These highly sought-after grapes are picked from October to November every year, thus rounding out the annual harvest.

Wineries Rely on Several Techniques for Harvesting Grapes

The techniques that wineries use to harvest their grapes varies; some abide by the time-honored method of hand-cutting every vine while others use modern machinery to harvest entire fields in record time. Many wine enthusiasts will agree that wines pressed from hand-picked grapes have superior taste, but specialized grape harvesting equipment can harvest grapes much quicker, thus increasing efficiency. The time of day that wineries begin the harvest also plays an important role in the qualities of the grapes. Vineyards located in warmer climates, such as Monserrato 1973 in Italy, will often harvest their grapes at night to take advantage of the stabilized sugar levels that grapes exhibit in cooler temperatures. It is the winemaker’s responsibility to plan these aspects of the harvesting process to achieve the flavor profiles and qualities they want from their grapes.

Club Jeroboam by He Wines She Dines Offers Wines from Several Established Harvesters and Growers

Sipping on a glass of fine wine is always an enjoyable experience, but learning about the effort that growers put into their grape harvesting can make the experience even more memorable. If you’re looking to begin your wine appreciation journey, He Wines She Dines offers a diverse selection of wines from several of our renowned growers. We offer a one-stop-shop experience where you can read about our growers, shop our collection, and even enjoy social events with your friends and family in our Rockwall, Texas-based wine club. Celebrate the upcoming harvest season with us today!