Harvest
In the singular, it is the manual or mechanical action of harvesting grapes when they have reached maturity, when their acidity and sugar levels are optimal. In the plural, the harvest refers to the period during which the grapes are picked, generally between the end of August and mid-October, depending on the region, the grape variety and the wine produced.
Choosing the right date for the harvest - it's not that simple!
Grape maturity, a multi-faceted oenological concept
The winemaker must take into account not one, but several different maturities.
- Technological ripeness, reached when the grapes have an optimum balance between their increasing sugar content and decreasing acidity
- Phenolic ripeness, reached when the concentration of pigments and tannins in the skin is ideal. The colour of the pips is also observed: darker pips contain more tannins.
- Aromatic maturity, linked to the increase in the quantity and quality of varietal aromas in the grapes. The measuring tool? The winegrower's discerning palate!
The beginning of the grape harvest
In each département of the wine-growing regions, the date for the start of the grape harvest is set by the producer organisations, the INAO (Institut national de l'origine et de la qualité) and the DDA (Direction départementale de l'agriculture) according to how far the grapes have advanced in maturity. Often recommended, compliance with this date is compulsory for AOC and AOP wines. The date is then the subject of a prefectoral decree lifting the "ban des vendanges", or ban on starting to harvest.
Climatic conditions are also important in order to avoid the risks associated with bad weather during the harvest (delays, damaged harvest, etc.).
Manual or mechanical harvesting, a question of quality and cost
The winegrower can choose between two methods: harvesting by hand or using machinery.
| Materials | Advantages | Inconveniences | Specifics | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual harvesting | Secateurs, buckets, crates, baskets, hoods | Precision, intact grapes, superior quality wines, simultaneous sorting, Harvesting of difficult-to-reach plots of land | The large workforce (grape-pickers) increases the cost of production | Essential for biodynamic wines and mandatory for certain AOP wines (champagne, etc.) |
| Mechanical harvesting | Sorting machines (tractors), lines and sorting tables | Faster, more economical, more responsive to changes in ripening and weather conditions, pooling of machinery | Grapes shatter under their own weight: risk of oxidation, no sorting during harvest, shortens the life of the vine, detrimental to certain grape varieties | First appeared at the end of 1980 |
Manual harvesting
| Materials | Secateurs, buckets, crates, baskets, hoods |
| Advantages | Precision, intact grapes, superior quality wines, simultaneous sorting, Harvesting of difficult-to-reach plots of land |
| Inconveniences | The large workforce (grape-pickers) increases the cost of production |
| Specifics | Essential for biodynamic wines and mandatory for certain AOP wines (champagne, etc.) |
Mechanical harvesting
| Materials | Sorting machines (tractors), lines and sorting tables |
| Advantages | Faster, more economical, more responsive to changes in ripening and weather conditions, pooling of machinery |
| Inconveniences | Grapes shatter under their own weight: risk of oxidation, no sorting during harvest, shortens the life of the vine, detrimental to certain grape varieties |
| Specifics | First appeared at the end of 1980 |
Aveine's precision
Whether by machine or at the touch of a fingertip, the grape harvest is brought to a close with some of the biggest celebrations in France (the Paulée in Burgundy, the Gerbaude in Bordeaux, etc.)!
A harvest like no other...
Late harvests
This harvest of over-ripe grapes at the end of the year produces sweeter, smoother wines. When it takes place in winter on frozen grapes, it is known as "ice wine".
Green harvest
Cutting off some bunches before they ripen enhances the concentration of pigments, tannins, sugar and aromas in those left on the vine.
Harvesting on the ground
Some bunches do not ripen in time to be harvested. Once the harvest is over, they are cut off to avoid unnecessary strain on the vineyard.
Aveine's precision
The etymology of the word "vendange" comes from the Latin "vindemia", a combination of "vinum" (wine) and "demere" (to take).