Great Grapes
How We Do It
The timing of a grape harvest is a harmonic convergence of art and science. The science elements include constant and consistent measurements of Brix (sugar levels), tartaric acid (natural ingredients that make wine refreshing), pH (the strength of the acids), hydration levels and phenolics (the flavor compounds that are the foundation of great wine) to name a few. The art comes from the intangibles that a winemaker learns over the course of numerous vintages that include mouth-feel, ripeness of seeds and stems, thickness of the skins (where most of the good tannins are held), water content and weather conditions. The grapes are gently hand harvested early in the morning to keep them cool and fresh as they make their way to the winery.
