It’s harvest time in Lodi Wine Country
How do you know when it’s harvest time? When the harvesters are carefully traversing down major thoroughfares? When you smell the musty aroma of fermenting fruit? Or, is it when you see the countryside abuzz with workers toiling the fields?
The answer is: Yes, yes, and yes! Harvest is officially in full swing in Lodi Wine Country, and we are here to tell you how it all goes down. The journey from grape to glass is an intricate process, adored by romanticists, grape growers, and wineries alike. But there is a lot of work that goes into making a bottle of wine, and it all starts in the vineyard.
When does harvest usually begin? It typically starts in early August and ends in late October, but there are always exceptions depending on Mother Nature. Grapes are picked when they reach the right maturity—which is why grape growers and wineries are in constant contact, checking sugar samples to determine the right time to pick the fruit from the vines. Grapes picked for sparkling wines tend to be picked first, and white varietals are typically harvested next. Then, things really start to get rolling with the addition of red varietals like Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.
Once the grapes have been delivered to the winery, the process of making the fruit into wine begins. In the simplest of statements, grape juice is combined with yeast to make alcohol and carbon dioxide. And while there is a lot more to it than that, all we really need to know is that turning those grapes into wine is a scientific process. The journey from the bunch to the bottle is in the hands of the winemaker, who tends to the process with passion and love.
After months of attention, wine there will be! That’s the best part of the harvest, after all, the bounty of new wines for us to drink in the coming months! New wines mean new release parties and new release parties mean more fun for you and me! So, the next time a harvester is holding you up on the way to work, give the driver a break. It’s all part of the process that gets us from grape to glass.
Let’s give a shout out to all of the growers, pickers, machine operators, tractor drivers, and mechanics who work tirelessly throughout the season. Cheers to a safe and prosperous harvest to all the Lodi Wine Country farmers out there—we can’t wait for the 2018 vintage to be bottled!
For More Information:
LodiGrowers.com