Harvest will probably start by the end of the week. We have already started cluster sampling of the grapes to be assured of their ripeness.
We started with sampling just random berries from each plot or vineyard. Then as we are getting closer to harvest, whole clusters are picked for a more through and accurate testing because then the whole cluster is being represented, not just a few of its grapes. Removing whole clusters rather than berries also protects the rest of the fruit from bruising. More samples will be taken tomorrow to choose the best day for harvesting each varietal grape and each plot of vineyard.
We have rows and rows of vines to test. We grow Cabernet Frac, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Dolcetto, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Ruby Cab, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo. And our white grapes are Albariño, Gewürztraminer, Malvasia Bianca, Marsanne, Moscato Giallo, Roussanne, Sémillon, Trebbiano, Vermentino, and Viognier.
As we are approaching harvest, there is also fine tuning to be done on our harvest equipment.
Normal tasks such as making sure that the harvester is thoroughly cleaned.
Shortened the legs on the receiving bin to make it a better height to work with our other equipment. Since it it shorter, maybe I will be able to get better photos of grapes at that stage of processing. A new system for conveying the bins through after cleaning is done with our Pellenc system.
And there is it the new chair constructed for the worker who runs the controls.
The guys had such a good time welding and painting blue the chair that they made a water bottle holder on the edge of the chair’s base. What they need to add now is a base to hold a tablet to record the weights and other information. And maybe get the swivel chair a little more stable, so it doesn’t swivel when you don’t want it to.
They made these stands also, but I have no idea what they are for, so I guess I’ll just have to come back and take pictures for you when it is all running.
Off for another day of preparations.
Blessings,
Betty
