September! Harvest time in the Vinyeards
Across vineyards right now, harvest season is in full swing – the culmination of a year's work for every winemaker!
This is the moment that defines the entire winemaking calendar. Everything from winter pruning to summer canopy management has been building toward these few crucial weeks when the grapes finally come off the vine.
The Reality of Harvest
Harvest days start early and end late. We're talking 12-14 hour days! Our winemakers are processing tons of grapes (literally) almost entirely by hand. In natural winemaking, there's minimal machinery involved, maybe presses and de-stemmers. Everything else is manual work: picking, sorting, crushing. It's physically demanding work that requires complete focus and dedication.
Each day ends with thorough cleaning of the entire winery. Hygiene is critical, especially when working with minimal amounts of sulfites or other preservatives, sometimes without them altogether. Then the next day, the process begins again.
The Pressure of Perfect Timing
In natural winemaking, the harvest date decision carries enormous weight. There's no room for corrections later, the grapes must be absolutely perfect. They need to hit that precise balance of sugar and acidity that matches the wine profile the winemaker envisions.
This means constant monitoring in the weeks leading up to harvest.
Tasting, testing, watching weather forecasts, making judgment calls based on years of experience and intimate knowledge of each vineyard block.
The Fermentation Gamble
Once the grapes are in the tanks, natural winemakers face another challenge: relying entirely on indigenous yeasts present on the grape skins to start fermentation. Unlike conventional winemaking where commercial yeasts provide predictable results, wild fermentation is inherently unpredictable.
Sometimes fermentation begins immediately and proceeds beautifully. Other times, it stalls or fails to start altogether. When this happens, thousands of liters of wine can be lost. It's a heart-stopping moment that comes with the territory of natural winemaking.
What This Means for Your Glass
Every natural wine represents this entire incredible process: the physical labor, the crucial timing decisions, and the leap of faith required when working with minimal intervention. These wines carry the story of their harvest in ways that industrial wines simply cannot.
As we move into harvest season, we're reminded why natural wines hold such a special place in our hearts. They represent a commitment to traditional methods and a willingness to accept the risks that come with letting nature take the lead.
We'll be receiving exciting new harvest wines in the coming months, each one a testament to the dedication and skill of ouramazing winemaking partners!