Tag Archive for: harvest

Trying to Predict Harvest

testing for ripenessSo here  it is, almost mid-July and time to test the grapes and try to predict harvest.  We tested the pH, TA and Brix along with visual examination, smell and taste testing.  Pictured here is tempranillo from Journey Vineyards, merlot from our Salado vineyard and chardonnay from our Salado vineyard.

As you can see, the tempranillo has very red juice.  Winemaker’s dream!  The merlot hasn’t developed much color yet, and the chardonnay on the right, well, as a white, we don’t want too much color.  You can also see the seeds in the picture.  Still plenty of green seeds.

So the statistics?

From Belle Crest, Tempranillo: pH 3.21, Brix 19.2, TA 9.2    Malbec pH 2.94, Brix 16, TA 16 g/L plum, Cabernet Sauvignon pH 2.91, Brix 16.8, TA 17 g/L tart like orange juice

We predict Tempranillo harvest August 2nd, Malbec August 9th and Cab August 16 for Belle Crest

From our vineyard, Chardonnay was 1/2 green seeds and 1/2 brown, starting to golden, smells like apple cider, brown juice, green apple or pineapple flavor, pH3.21, TA 14 g/L, 14.5 degrees Brix, predict harvest on August 2nd

Merlot, too many green berries! very green seeds, brown juice, sweet carmel and plum smell, tart like orange juice taste, pH 3.08, TA 12.4 g/L, 12 degrees brix, predict harvest on August 9th

From Journey Vineyards, Tempranillo has green & beige seeds, almost fully colored grapes, nice pink juice, grape bubblegum and applesauce flavors, pH 3.15, TA 10 g/L, 13 degrees Brix, predict harvest August 9th

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HufNlpiVzks/U8Bi4rLsjhI/AAAAAAABh78/JVcuD0ELT98/s144-c-o/DSC02121.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/102153593012294996679/20140724?authkey=tHHvpsoPu_U#6034932226480442898″ caption=” ” type=”image” alt=”DSC02121.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9C-ILEQWRr0/U8BMLY575pI/AAAAAAABh7o/05hX2JB5jWc/s144-c-o/DSC02109.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/102153593012294996679/20140724?authkey=tHHvpsoPu_U#6034907259224188562″ caption=” ” type=”image” alt=”DSC02109.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/–_BhPtU7W6U/U8BL5KEZW3I/AAAAAAABh7c/yp3Qn9BJ_og/s144-c-o/DSC02110.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/102153593012294996679/20140724?authkey=tHHvpsoPu_U#6034906946003884914″ caption=” ” type=”image” alt=”DSC02110.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pLBEeQ-cRHI/U8BLZOD4vjI/AAAAAAABh7E/9HLYnJ0F0ew/s144-c-o/DSC02112.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/102153593012294996679/20140724?authkey=tHHvpsoPu_U#6034906397319675442″ caption=” ” type=”image” alt=”DSC02112.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Wn9H0m8Sbe4/U8BJdQdrBmI/AAAAAAABh5w/0m_A95bG9Ho/s144-c-o/DSC02115.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/102153593012294996679/20140724?authkey=tHHvpsoPu_U#6034904267660920418″ caption=” ” type=”image” alt=”DSC02115.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TpY_oQ-hcEE/U8BGZqkbRlI/AAAAAAABh48/MJrNVBKN2TU/s144-c-o/DSC02106.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/102153593012294996679/20140724?authkey=tHHvpsoPu_U#6034900907414210130″ caption=” ” type=”image” alt=”DSC02106.JPG” ]

Harvest is Done!

we survived the wasps & bees!

we survived the wasps & bees!

Finally, we’ve finished harvesting our two tons of grapes at our Salado Vineyard.  Here is the Labor Day crew after destemming & crushing the cabernet sauvignon. Now on to fermentation!

Here are some statistics though to keep you entertained while the yeast does its job making wine…

2013 harvest (latest ever)

chardonnay 871 lbs

merlot 1000 lbs

sangiovese 842 lbs

cabernet sauvignon 1287 lbs

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Harvest Saturday, August 31

We've double netted the cab sauv to keep out deer and birds!

We’ve double netted the cab sauv to keep out deer and birds!

Saturday & Sunday August 31-September 1, 7:00-11:00 am

<<<<<<<<<<I underestimated the crop!  We’ll continue picking on Sunday morning, SEP 1 at 7AM>>>>>>>>>>

Latest harvest ever! This is your last chance in 2013 to take part in harvesting grapes in Salado.  There are only 3 1/2 rows left, so I expect this will only take one day.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you. Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me). Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary. Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat. Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard! I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Saturday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action. We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571. Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com. If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813.

Stop by for Punch Down

sangiovese to the left and merlot to the right

sangiovese to the left and merlot to the right

I think this is the best time of year at the winery–FERMENTATION!  Every few hours we punch down the cap to mix up the wine and ensure that the yeast gets access to all the good bits of grapes.    It’s a great workout for my arms, shoulders, & back, but I’m happy to “share” the fun!  Come on by and I’ll let you stir too 🙂

We have over 200 gallons of sangiovese, malbec and merlot must fermenting.  We’ll be pressing in several days when fermentation is complete. The merlot is giving off a great purple color, but the sangiovese is much lighter.  I’m sure we’ll make a rose with the sangiovese again.  The cabernet sauvignon is still on the vine.  We double-netted it to keep the mockingbirds out.  Hopefully the nets will work and then we’ll marry the merlot with the cabernet.

Hoping for great wine and now it’s time to punch again…

 

 

2013 Harvest–Merlot & Sangiovese complete & Cab Sauvignon TBD

IMAG0467Thanks to lots of help from great friends, we’ve completed the harvest of the sangiovese and merlot.  We picked from 7 am, Saturday, August 17 until 12:30 pm.  Then we grabbed some great tacos at Sylvia’s Taco truck and now we’ll be crushing grapes all afternoon.

Not quite sure when we’ll harvest the cabernet sauvignon yet, probably in 2 weeks!

Red Grape Harvest MOVED to August 17-18, 2013

picking grapes is so easy--even a one year old can do it

picking grapes is so easy–even a one year old can do it!

After test #4, we’ve decided that the red grapes will not be ready until August 17.  So the next chance to harvest is Saturday & Sunday, August 17 & 18 at 7 am.

We usually pick grapes until 11 am and you’re welcome to come for as little or as long as you like.  Come for the fun and camaraderie!  Kids welcome.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you.  Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me).  Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary.  Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat.  Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard!  I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Sunday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action.  We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571.  Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com.  If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813.  More harvest updates will be available, and they are tentatively listed on our homepage under “vineyard” or on ourfacebook page http://www.facebook.com/SaladoWinery.

Test #4 for Grape Ripeness

uneven ripening, 3 more weeks to go

uneven ripening, 1 more week to go

I thought that we would harvest the red grapes during the weekend of August 10-11, but after testing the grapes, I have decided that we will wait one more week, and harvest the red grapes August 17-18.  Here are the numbers from test #4 (done Tuesday, August 6, 2013) for those who are curious:

Sangiovese piccolo 3.42 pH, 19 degrees Brix, 8.4 TA (pear)

Sangiovese grosso 3.54 pH, 20 degrees Brix, 8.25 TA (overripe plum)

Cabernet Sauvignon 3.29 pH, 17 degrees Brix, 9.75 TA (green apple–definitely under ripe)

Merlot 3.56 pH, 19.2 degrees Brix, 7.20 TA (mellow)

Most importantly, I am still seeing some green grapes in the vineyard, some green seeds, and the peduncles have not hardened off quite yet, so I think to optimize the quality of the grapes, I should wait one more week.  Hope the birds don’t get all this fruit!

Some of the numbers have not moved much since test #3, but the flavors are developing, so I have confidence that the grapes are still ripening.

2013 Red Harvest AUG 10-11

picking grapes is easy

picking grapes is easy

<<<<<<<<<<<<UPDATE:  Harvest rescheduled for AUGUST 17-18>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

After testing, we’ve decided that the red grapes will not be ready until August 10.  So the next chance to harvest is Saturday & Sunday, August 10 & 11 at 7 am.

We usually pick grapes until 11 am and you’re welcome to come for as little or as long as you like.  Come for the fun and camaraderie!  Kids welcome.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you.  Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me).  Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary.  Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat.  Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard!  I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Sunday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action.  We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571.  Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com.  If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813.  More harvest updates will be available, and they are tentatively listed on our homepage under “vineyard” or on ourfacebook page http://www.facebook.com/SaladoWinery.

Test for harvest #3

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While we picked the chardonnay, I was quite struck by how far behind the reds seem to be.  So time to run the tests again:

Merlot 19.8 degrees Brix, 3.55 pH, 7.5 TA (bland-no flavor)

Sangiovese 18.3 degrees Brix, 3.29 pH, 9.0 TA (strawberry-slightly tart)

Cabernet Sauvignon 16.8 degrees Brix, 3.04 pH, 10.5 TA (TART!)

Based on these numbers, I am predicting that harvest will be Saturday, August 10 & 11, at least for the merlot and sangiovese.

 

We also tested the grapes from Belle Crest Vineyard:

Malbec 20.3 degrees Brix, 3.55 pH, 6.0 TA (fig)

Tempranillo 22 degrees Brix, 3.74 pH, 4.5 TA (pear)

Cabernet Sauvignon 19 degrees Brix, 3.29 pH, 7.5 TA (nectarine)

Their cab sauv looks to be a bit higher than ours, but their sample is not a true random sample since it did not include the green grapes.  For our sample, we tried to make sure that we had a truly random sample and included green berries.

<<<<<<<<<UPDATE: RED harvest at Salado Vineyard MOVED to AUGUST 17 & 18 after test #4>>>>>>>>>

2013 Chardonnay Harvest July 27-28

chardonnay sample picked on July 20. Notice mostly dark brown seeds and some beige.

chardonnay sample picked on July 20. Notice mostly dark brown seeds and some beige.

It is time!  Chardonnay harvest begins Saturday morning, 7 am, July 27.  It will likely continue on Sunday July 28 at 7 am and you are officially invited to join us for Harvest 2013!  We usually pick grapes until 11 am and you’re welcome to come for as little or as long as you like.  Come for the fun and camaraderie!  Kids welcome.

If you have favorite pruners, bring them, otherwise we have extras for you.  Please wear a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sturdy shoes. (I like to wear old sneakers and socks so that the pigweed doesn’t get me).  Some folks like to wear light cotton gloves, but they are not necessary.  Beware of the wasps, fireants, mosquitos, and be prepared for the heat.  Watch out for the mean old mockingbirds who think they own the vineyard!  I haven’t seen any snakes this year, but there’s always a first.

Also, Sunday afternoon and the days following harvest are the best times to visit the winery and see the wine making in action.  We can always put extra hands to work, so if you don’t like to get up early in the morning, come by in the afternoon and be part of the bucket brigade.

The vineyard is at 21724 Hill Road, Salado, TX 76571.  Feel free to send me an email to june @ saladowinery.com.  If you are lost the morning of harvest, call/text us on cell phone, (254) 466-5813.  More harvest updates will be available, and they are tentatively listed on our homepage under “vineyard” or on ourfacebook page http://www.facebook.com/SaladoWinery.