“Weinlese” refers to the grape harvest in Germany. This process of picking grapes from the vines is a foundational step in winemaking, as the quality and characteristics of the collected grapes directly influence the final wine.
Timing the Grape Harvest
Determining the optimal harvest time is a complex decision based on grape ripeness and desired wine style. Winemakers monitor sugar content (Brix), acidity (pH and titratable acidity), and phenolic maturity. Sugar content indicates potential alcohol, while acidity contributes to freshness and balance.
Weather conditions affect harvest timing, as sudden changes can impact grape quality. Rain dilutes flavors and promotes rot, while extreme heat causes rapid overripening, leading to high alcohol and low acidity. Frost and hail damage grapes, sometimes prompting earlier harvesting to prevent crop loss. In the Northern Hemisphere, including Germany, the harvest season spans late August to October, occasionally extending into November for specific varieties or styles.
The desired wine style also dictates harvest timing. Grapes for sparkling wines are picked earlier for higher acidity, while those for late-harvest or dessert wines remain on the vine longer to accumulate sugar and develop noble rot. Climate change has influenced schedules, often leading to earlier ripening and requiring winemakers to adapt.
Methods of Grape Harvest
Grape harvesting uses two main methods: manual and mechanical. Manual picking, a traditional approach, involves workers carefully selecting and cutting grape bunches by hand. This allows for selective picking of healthy, optimally ripe grapes, beneficial for high-quality wines, delicate varieties like Pinot Noir, or styles requiring whole bunches or individual berry selection (e.g., noble rot). Hand-picking minimizes damage to grapes and vines, preserving integrity and reducing oxidation.
Despite its quality benefits, manual harvesting is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and more expensive than mechanical methods. Finding sufficient skilled labor for large operations can be challenging. Additionally, certain vineyard terrains, like steep slopes in regions such as the Mosel Valley, necessitate manual harvesting as machines cannot operate there.
Mechanical harvesting uses large machines that shake berries onto conveyor belts. This method offers speed and cost-efficiency, allowing large areas to be harvested quickly, often around the clock, which is useful when weather threatens. Mechanical harvesters are also useful in hot regions, picking at night when temperatures are cooler, preserving aromas and reducing refrigeration needs at the winery.
However, mechanical harvesting is less selective, collecting unripe, diseased, or damaged grapes, and debris. It can cause trauma to grapes and vines, leading to juice leakage and oxidation. This method also requires specific vineyard layouts, making it unsuitable for old bush vines, pergolas, or vineyards with narrow row spacing.
Significance of the Harvest
The grape harvest is paramount in winemaking, directly influencing the quality, flavor, and style of the resulting wine. It ensures grapes are picked at their optimal ripeness, achieving the desired balance of sugar, acidity, and phenolic compounds, which are crucial for the wine’s character.
Beyond its impact on wine quality, Weinlese holds cultural importance in German wine regions and worldwide. It marks the culmination of a year’s vineyard work, celebrated with tradition, community, and festivity. Wine festivals, or “Weinfest” in Germany, are common, offering tastings, traditional food, and a vibrant atmosphere. These celebrations highlight the shared effort and connection between the land, people, and wine.