

For the producer the harvest is essentially quick, yet careful decision making and intense time sensitive labor to get a years work safe and sound into the cellar. One stroke of Mother Nature, like hail, too much rain, or a sudden extreme change in weather, and a year’s work can be lost at this incredibly crucial period.
To better understand all of the work and time that goes into your bottle of wine, I thought I would share with you a day of harvest at the Iuli estate where everything is done by hand by friends, family and a few employees.

A number is factors will affect when the trigger is pulled to start the picking:
- Sugar and acidity levels
- Grape quality
- Current weather
- Weather forecasts (if there is a lot of rain in the forecast, it is better to pick early than to risk loosing an entire crop due to rot and/or mold)
- grape variety, different varieties ripen at different speeds. For example, whites before reds, and Barbera before Nebbiolo.
- vineyard location, disposition and altitude
- soil type




6. The crates are then loaded back onto the truck and placed again in the next vineyard that is ready to be harvested, which may be the next day, or the next week, depending on the vintage.
7. The grapes on the other hand are now safely in the tanks in the cellar where they start to go through natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts.

To be continued….
Thank you for posting - it was so fun to check your blog today and find something new! Miss you lots.
ReplyDeleteGrazie Bella, now the pictures are on there... ENJOY!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Summer - didn't realize it was up. Be in touch soon!
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