Harvest
California Grapes
Grapes have a special place in the state of California as we are the largest grape and wine producing state accounting for about 85% of the country’s total output according to WineAmerica. Today, Clarksburg appellation is home to more than a dozens wineries, 15 of which call the Old Sugar Mill home. The appellation encompasses almost 60,000 acres, with 18,000 acres of some of the finest vineyards in Northern California. Locally we grow over 35 varieties, the most popular being Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Sauvignon Blanc. Each year, grapes are cut from there vines in order for us to enjoy the many qualities they bring. This is known as harvest, which is the most busy and exciting time for The Old Sugar Mill as it is the first step grapes make towards the finished bottle.
The Harvest
By this point, grapes have gone through a season of growth. As harvest season begins both growers and winemakers are left bidding on picking the grapes. Unlike many fruits, grapes are harvested when they are fully ripe. Once plucked they will not get any sweeter, so time is often of the essence in grape picking. But how do our growers know when to pick? A variety of compounds such as, color, sugar content, bunch, berry size, and skill are measured. Timing isn’t the only factor that’s key to getting the ripeness of a grape. The grower must also be attuned to sudden weather changes. Excessive rain or heat waves may ruin a years’ worth of crop. The growers are constantly checking the ripeness of the grape and the elements outside. Typically in Clarksburg the harvest begins in early August and runs through September depending on the variety of wine. Due to the sensitivity of grapes, factors such as rough handling and decay causing microorganisms the grapes are cut off by hand. The grapes are immediately packed into shipping containers (often right in the field) and then sent directly to the Crush Facility. The whole process from vine to crush takes only a couple of hours. Once sorted for top quality grapes, it's time to crush them so the yeast can quickly get to work fermenting. This is just the beginning, the art of winemaking only starts after grapes are processed. Countless hours and even years are spent making wine.
