crush Archives - Wine Country Getaways

September is Harvest Month in Wine Country

September 1, 2016 by Joe Becerra

grape harvest in california wine country.

Grape harvest in full swing in California wine country

September is harvest month in wine country

The 2016 Grape Harvest, also know as The Crush, is on, but the best is yet to come. With temperatures lower than normal the past week, the grape clusters are slowly maturing. That is what the vineyard growers like. A lengthy “hang time” means the grapes mature slowly, allowing the grape flavors to intensify. Most of the red grapes will be harvested throughout the month of September. Several of the growers have indicated that 2016 will be a much better harvest in quality and quantity than last year’s harvest. The yields will not be huge, like 2013 or 2014, but enough to keep all the vintners on the happy side. Harvest of the grapes takes place in the early morning hours when temperatures are very cool. High temperatures are unhealthy for the grape-picking crew. The grapes also need to be picked when they are cool. The Napa Valley Register had a wonderful synopsis of the harvest status with various regions of the Napa Valley. Take a look at the report.

Other “Crush” information

Quick video – harvest activities

What is the Crush

September 10, 2015 by Joe Becerra

The crush begins with picking the grapes

The Crush

The Crush is on in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, and all around the Northern Hemisphere of wine country. It is the most exciting time in the wine country. So, what is the Crush? The Crush begins when the grapes are picked by an amazing group of field workers. They move swiftly and skillfully, cutting the grape clusters from the vines and dropping the grapes into their baskets. From there the baskets are dumped into larger bins, usually half-ton plastic bins. When the larger bins are full, they are quickly delivered to the wine cellar. In the wine cellar they can be sorted, de-stemmed, and sent to the crusher. For red wines, the skins and the grape juice stay together. The grapes are placed into fermenting tanks. Fementation takes place when the yeast cells begin to feast on the sugar component of the grape juice. Fermentation gives off two by-products, CO2 and alcohol. When the yeast has consumed all the sugar, fermentation ends. The juice is pumped from the fermenting tanks into oak barrels for aging. At this point, the Crush is complete and it is time to age and nurture the wine. Late August, September and October is when most of the Crush takes place in the wine country in all of California, Washington, and Oregon.

Crush Tips

Napa Valley Travelers Beware – Harvest is near

August 17, 2011 by Joe Becerra

The most exciting and rewarding time of the year in the Napa Valley wine country, and for that matter all of wine country, is harvest time, “the crush” as it is called. This is what every winemaker, vineyard manager, and winery owner awaits throughout the vineyard year. Everything at a winery is at a fever pitch and excitement fills the air. If you want to be part of this wonderful experience, plan for your “Harvest” wine country getaway now. This is the peak season for visitors in the Napa Valley, so book your reservations early.

Harvest begins in late August. We have not heard of any grapes being picked as yet, but very soon the sparkling wine grapes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay will be ready for harvest. Mumm Napa is always one of the first to harvest and celebrate. In September, the harvest picks up pace and will most likely extend into late October. This year has seen another very mild summer, and unless there are several warm days ahead this should be a later than average harvest year.