Your guide to 2024 grape harvest experiences
For winemakers, the arrival of autumn and the end of long summer days can only mean one thing: it’s time to harvest! Grape harvesting marks the end of one cycle at the winery and the beginning of another. A new vintage means new wines, new aromas, tastes and blends, and new experimentation in the vinification process. It is also the most interesting and magical moment to visit a winery, as everyone is involved in the process and all activities are centred around the harvesting.
Discover grape picking near you and embrace the local wine culture
For those seeking a unique and hands-on adventure, grape-picking experiences offer a delightful opportunity to get closer to nature. Local vineyards open their doors to visitors, inviting you to become part of the age-old tradition of grape harvesting. Whether it's a family outing or a solo escape, the thrill of picking ripe, juicy grapes straight from the vine is an experience that connects people with the land and the fruit it bears.
The simple act of picking grapes fosters a deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication of farmers who cultivate the vines year-round, ultimately contributing to the production of exquisite wines enjoyed worldwide.
Pick your own grapes - A fun-filled adventure
For those curious about the grape picking process, "pick your own grapes" tours offer an educational and enjoyable experience. Armed with baskets, visitors venture into the vineyards, guided by experienced vintners who share insights into the art of grape harvesting.
These tours often include a journey through the vineyard, where visitors gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between the vines, the soil, and the climate.
Pick grapes near Porto
Harvest experience at Lavradores de Feitoria
Here, you'll have the rare opportunity to immerse yourself in an authentic atmosphere, where your hands will be immersed in the soil, and your senses intoxicated by the rich cultural ambiance, evoking a profound sense of connection to this ancient and cherished activity.
Experience available in harvest season for groups of over 4 people and it includes vBriefing and delivery of harvest material, grape picking and cutting, Guided visit to the winery, the historical room, the barrel room and the first wine tasting, Wine tasting of three wines from "Terroir" vineyards, accompanied by a board of regional cheeses and sausages.
Harvest wine tour in Lombardy
Live the Harvest at Azienda Agricola Calatroni
The Azienda Agricola Calatroni offers an exciting opportunity for adults as well as children to live a day like a winemaker. After arriving at the company, the visitors will get a quick introduction to the history and techniques of harvesting. Then the essential equipment like scissors and baskets will be distributed among the visitors. The harvested grapes will be pressed with bare feet by the visitors and they can taste the freshly pressed must. Then the visitors will get an opportunity to have lunch with the winemaker.
When to pick grapes? The perfect timing
Grape harvest season is crucial in the wine-making process. The exact moment when grapes are ready to pick depends on various factors such as grape variety, weather conditions, and the region's microclimate and the hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, vineyards typically begin their harvest in late August, extending to mid-October. Conversely, in the southern hemisphere, the grape harvest season falls between late February and April. This critical period sees vineyards bustling with activity as they meticulously pick and process each grape, ensuring the highest quality for the ensuing wine production.
Timing is crucial when it comes to grape harvesting. Typically, grape picking season begins in late summer and extends through early autumn. However, as mentioned above, the precise time may vary from one vineyard to another. It's always best to check with local vineyards or grape growers to determine when the grapes are at their peak ripeness.
Grape harvest seasons in different hemispheres
- In the northern hemisphere, the average harvesting period goes from the end of August to mid-October.
- In the southern hemisphere grape picking normally starts around the end of February and lasts until April.
Winemakers and viticulturists monitor the grapevines meticulously, observing the changes in color and texture of the grape clusters. They assess sugar levels, acidity, and tannin development to identify the optimal time for harvesting. This decision-making process is a delicate balance between the art of winemaking and the intricacies of nature. The goal is to pick the grapes at the perfect stage of ripeness, ensuring the resulting wines possess the desired flavors, aromas, and structure.
How are grapes harvested?
Every harvest starts with one single step: grape picking. Before starting, winemakers carefully check the health and ripeness of a grape. It doesn’t matter where in the world a winery is located, all winemakers have one single goal in mind: produce the best and highest quality wine.
When it comes to grape harvesting, there are two ways to carry out this marvellous process. The first one – the most traditional – is hand picking. This technique is no longer as common as it used to be in the past, but it’s mandatory in some appellations (for example in Champagne), and with the surging trend of biodynamic and sustainable wine production, it is experiencing a bit of a renaissance.
The second way is through the use of machines; this routine is mostly used on very large winery estates, and in hot wine regions, where the grape picking has to be quick. Grape harvesting machines were first introduced in the 1960s.
Do you want to live unforgettable harvesting experiences? Check our page where we listed the best harvesting experiences offered by our partner wineries!
The challenge with grape harvesting is related to picking the grape when it’s at the perfect ripening point. If the harvesting is carried out too early, the risk is to end up with a harsh and herbaceous wine; while if the harvesting happens too late, grapes might have lost their acidity and the wine loses its structure and balance.
Before the actual beginning of grape harvesting, winemakers at each domain start to test the quality of the grapes by using specific devices or just by tasting the grapes, and begin to organise the logistics. Many people are involved in the harvesting process and in some wineries, new forces have to come in. Harvesting is the most important moment of the year for a winery and all the actions have to be perfectly executed.
How Does the Grape Picking Machine Work?
Even though hand picking is the most traditional way to harvest, using the grape harvesting machine is incredibly efficient. The machine mounts a row of grapes and as it ‘travels’ down a row, the canes gently shake as they are attached to the vine. The movement of the vine causes the grapes to fall off to the sides of the harvester where a belt carries them into two bins attached to the machine.
Facts about grape picking you probably didn’t Know
- Grapes are mostly harvested at night. This happens because the level of sugars is more stable when the grape is not exposed to sunlight.
- Tannins, sugar, acid and ripeness are the main characteristics a winemaker takes into account when it comes to deciding the harvesting moment.
- Every time a new vine is planted, you need to wait between 3 and 5 years before its grapes are good for wine production.
- Grapes do not determine the colour of the wine. Skin does. (There are a few exceptions)
- The flavor of the wine is affected by the time a grape has spent on the vine.
- There are never two years with the same harvest as the amount of rainfall, haze and sun exposure can affect the quantity and quality of the grapes.
