A Day in the Life of a Winemaker During Harvest Season
Discover the hustle of harvest season in a winemaker's life, from pre-dawn grape checks to late-night fermentations. A true labor of love.
Hello from wine country!
With the 2024 harvest underway, this time of the year is the most exhilarating time for winemakers. It's a period filled with anticipation, hard work, and immense satisfaction as months of vineyard care culminate in the careful picking and processing of grapes.
But what does a typical day look like for a winemaker during this crucial time? Let’s take a closer look at the hustle and bustle that defines a day in the life of a winemaker during harvest season.
4:30 AM – Rise and Shine
The day begins early—well before sunrise with lots of coffee, going to be a long day!
Harvesting grapes is a race against time and temperature. Cooler morning temperatures help preserve the grapes' delicate aromas and acidity, which are essential for producing high-quality wine.
The winemaker wakes up and immediately checks the weather forecast and vineyard reports, looking for any signs of impending rain or unexpected frost that could impact the day’s harvest.
5:00 AM – Vineyard Check
By dawn, the winemaker is already in the vineyard, assessing the vines and sampling grapes. This isn't just a quick glance; it involves tasting grapes from different blocks, testing sugar levels (Brix), acidity, and tannins to determine if the fruit is ready for picking. Each decision is based on years of experience and a deep understanding of the vineyard's unique microclimate.
6:00 AM – Harvest Begins
Once the go-ahead is given, the harvest team gets to work. Some vineyards use machines for harvesting, but many winemakers still prefer the precision and care that hand-picking provides.
This is especially true for premium wines, where each grape cluster is carefully selected to ensure only the best fruit makes it to the winery. The winemaker supervises the crew, ensuring that grapes are picked swiftly and efficiently, yet delicately enough to prevent damage.
Local Insider's Tip
There's no shortage of places to grab some java in wine country. Some of our favorites are Calistoga Roastery, Model Bakery, Bouchon Bakery and Valley Caffe.
10:00 AM – Grape Sorting and Destemming
By mid-morning, the first truckloads of grapes start arriving at the winery. Here, the winemaker and their team begin the sorting process. This is where bad grapes, leaves, and stems are removed, either by hand or with the help of machines.
Some winemakers choose to destem their grapes before fermentation, while others prefer whole-cluster fermentation to add complexity to the wine. The decision depends on the grape variety, the desired wine style, and the winemaker’s philosophy.
12:00 PM – Lunch Break (Kind Of)
Lunch during harvest season is a quick, practical affair. It might be a simple sandwich, hamburger from a local restaurant or a hearty stew you made in preparation for harvest. It’s more about fueling up for the rest of the day. Even during this short break, the winemaker is constantly thinking about the next steps, checking fermentation tanks, emails, reports or discussing plans with the cellar team.
And of course.... more coffee!
Local Insider's Tip
If you are in jonezing for a fantastic hamburger, then you'll want to check out Gott's in St. Helena (or Napa), Brasswood Bar + Kitchen and Market Restaurant in St. Helena.
1:00 PM – Crushing and Fermentation
After lunch, it’s time to move the sorted grapes to the crusher. Depending on the type of wine being made, the grapes may be crushed and pressed immediately, or they may be left to ferment with their skins. Red wines require fermentation with the skins to extract color and tannins, while white wines are typically pressed before fermentation to separate the juice from the skins.
The winemaker carefully monitors the crushing process and ensures the grapes are handled gently to avoid unnecessary oxidation or damage.
Local Insider's Tip
Did you know that fermenting grapes in a concrete egg fermenter offers several unique benefits over steel or oak fermentation tanks?
The egg shape promotes a natural convection current within the fermenter, allowing the juice and lees to mix gently without mechanical intervention, which can result in a more complex and textured wine. Concrete also provides excellent insulation, maintaining a stable temperature during fermentation, crucial for preserving delicate aromas and flavors.
Additionally, the micro-oxygenation properties of concrete—similar to oak but without adding flavors—help soften tannins and enhance mouthfeel, creating wines with purity, depth, and a distinctive mineral quality.
3:00 PM – Monitoring Fermentation
Fermentation is a critical phase that can make or break a wine. The winemaker is constantly checking the temperature and sugar levels of the fermenting juice, adjusting as needed to control the pace of fermentation. Too fast, and the wine may lose delicate flavors; too slow, and there’s a risk of bacterial spoilage.
During this time, the winemaker might also decide to perform "punch-downs" or "pump-overs" for red wines to keep the grape skins in contact with the juice, enhancing color, flavor, and tannin extraction.
5:00 PM – Barrel Preparation and Maintenance
As the day winds down, attention turns to barrel preparation. If the wine is destined for aging in oak, the barrels need to be clean and ready. The winemaker selects barrels based on the grape variety and the desired style of wine, choosing between different types of oak (French, American, Hungarian) and varying levels of toast.
This decision is pivotal, as it will influence the wine’s flavor, texture, and aging potential.
7:00 PM – Evening Vineyard Walk
Before calling it a day, the winemaker often takes one last walk through the vineyard, reflecting on the day’s work and planning for tomorrow. This quiet moment allows the winemaker to stay connected to the vines, observe any changes, and make mental notes for the next day’s harvest.
Local Insider's Tip
One of the best vineyard walks that's open to the public is in St. Helena. Put in the St. Helena Library as your destination in Google Maps and drive to the end of Adams, park the car and head north. You can walk this path all the way to the Napa River- and behaved pooches are welcomed!
And if you are lucky, you might just bump into a winemaker or two.
8:00 PM – Dinner and Rest (Finally)
After a long day, the winemaker heads home for a late dinner. It’s a time to unwind and enjoy a glass of wine—perhaps from a previous harvest—and recharge for the next day. But even then, the mind never fully shuts off from the tasks ahead. The winemaker checks the weather again, reviews fermentation data, and prepares for another early morning start.
Local Insider's Tip
Having time during the peak of harvest to go out for a nice meal sounds impossible at this point, but it's always good to connect with friends and raise a glass to celebrate harvest.
My favorite spot is Cook- St. Helena. Say "Hello" to Jude for me.
Harvest Season: A Labor of Love
Harvest season is much more than just a busy time—it's a labor of love. Every decision made by the winemaker during these weeks has a profound impact on the wine’s final character. It’s a period filled with long days, physical exhaustion, and endless decision-making, but it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of winemaking. After all, it’s during this time that the potential for a truly remarkable wine is born.
So, the next time you enjoy a glass of wine, take a moment to appreciate the dedication and hard work that went into each bottle. Remember, behind every great wine is a winemaker who poured their heart and soul into every step of the harvest season. Cheers to them!
We hope to bump into you in St. Helena!
- The Silver Fox
Upcoming Events
With harvest here, we've got a fantastic line up events. So, get out and raise a glass with us in wine country!
Clare Cellars
Santoor and Tabla Concert in the Vineyards
Paso Robles, CA
Saturday, September 7, 2024, 4:00 PM
Patterson Cellars- Walla Walla
Patterson Exploration Series: Tempranillo Exploration
Walla Walla, WA
Sunday, September 15, 2024, 1:00 PM
Helwig Winery
Helwig Winery Concerts presents: The Cripple Creek Band
Plymouth, CA
Saturday, September 14, 2024, 5:00 PM
Messina Hof Estate Winery and Resort
Cooking Party with the Chef: International Dumplings
Bryan, TX
Sunday, September 15, 2024, 12:30 PM
Vezer Family Vineyard
2024 Chieftain Black and Red Gala- Saturday 9/21
Fairfield, CA
Saturday, September 21, 2024, 6:00 PM
Cielo Sulla Terra Estate Vineyard & Winery
Intimate Evening With Nina Gerber & Chris Webster
Somerset, CA
Sunday, October 6, 2024, 6:00 PM
Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards
Thursday Night Sunset Happy Hour 9/12/24
Windsor, CA
Thursday, September 12, 2024, 5:00 PM
The Caves at Soda Canyon
The Caves at Soda Canyon, Harvest Party 2024
Napa, CA
Saturday, August 31, 2024, 11:00 AM
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