Grape harvest is here! Which means that new vintages of your favorite Missouri Wines are on their way. Have you ever wondered about the harvesting process? What goes into it? Hand harvest vs machine harvest? Keep reading to dive into the full process and learn more!

Grape harvest happens between August and October. The exact timing depends on the grape variety, desired wine style, and vineyard conditions. Factors like grape color, sugar levels, and acidity also influence when a winery decides it is time to harvest! 

Veraison happened not too long ago. To learn more about this stage of the vine, click here!

There are a few more factors that go into deciding when the grapes are ready to be picked:

• Sugar content: Grapes are typically harvested when they reach a specific sugar concentration, measured in brix.
• Acidity: Depending on the type or style of wine, grapes may be harvested earlier with a higher acidity.
• Weather: Cool, dry days are ideal for harvesting, as with most crops.
• Varietal: Different grape varietals will be ready for harvest at different times.

While we have mechanical harvesters available, some wineries still use hand harvesting. Keep reading to find out why!

Hand harvesting is preferred for quality control. It is also used when geography makes it dangerous or not possible to use a mechanical harvester. For example, those vineyards that are on steep hills or in a valley. Mechanical harvesting is definitely faster, but is not suitable for all grape varietals, or wineries. Hand harvest uses different tools like clippers, pruning shears, and grape razor forks.

After harvest they sort the grapes and underripe grapes are removed. The grapes are then stored in bins, ready to be pressed!

Now that you know the entire harvesting process, get excited, your favorite Missouri Wines are in the works!