The most exciting time of the year - the Harvest!
Every August is a key time for our wine workshop - it's when our team harvests the grapes that we care for the rest of the year and from which we create our artisan wines.
In 2022, the vineyard experienced a unique set of climatic conditions that influenced the grape harvest. Here is a summary of the key highlights:
The winter season was characterized by warmer temperatures than usual. The absence of snow and sufficient spring water in the soil contributed to the vines' early development. Due to the warmer winter and early arrival of spring-like conditions, the vines began their growth cycle earlier than expected. In June, a satisfactory amount of rainfall occurred, which helped provide necessary moisture to the vineyard. Adequate rainfall during this period is crucial for healthy grape growth. The remaining summer months, July and August, were marked by dry and hot weather conditions. Insufficient rainfall during this period can put stress on the vines and impact grape development. Given the climatic conditions throughout the year and the vines' early development, the grape harvest commenced at the end of August. This was approximately five days earlier than the usual harvest start date.
Preparing for harvest
Preparing for harvest is a crucial step in ensuring the optimal timing for picking the grapes. The process we followed, involving average grape samples and testing their sugars, pH, and acidity, demonstrates a meticulous approach to determining the harvest timeline and setting expectations. At the beginning of the second week of August, we collected grape samples from all the vineyard plots (we have seventeen different varieties on our vineyard site). This sampling technique allows us to obtain a representative overview of the entire vineyard's grape development. This data serves as a starting point for making decisions regarding the optimal harvest time for each specific grape variety.
The start of Harvest 2022
The start of the harvest 2022 was marked by the picking of Sauvignon Blanc on 24 August. From there, our vineyard team carefully planned and allocated specific days for harvesting each parcel of Sauvignon Blanc, aiming to preserve the varietal's freshness.
By 11 September, all the white grape varieties, including Semillon, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Traminer, and Vermentino, were harvested. Additionally, the Pinot Noir grapes destined for Rosé. For the second year in a row, a special mini-plot of Pinot Noir from the vineyards near the Black Sea coast was given special care. The grapes from this plot were harvested to produce a Pinot Noir red wine. The relatively low temperatures in September influenced the harvest schedule for Grenache and Mourvedre grapes, which were used for rosé production. The red grapes of Merlot, Malbec, and Syrah were also harvested towards the end of the month.
By 10 October, the remaining red grape varieties, including Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carmenère, had reached their maximum potential and phenolic ripeness. These grapes were carefully harvested.
The harvest 2022 concluded in the last week of October with the picking of the late-ripening varieties, Mavrud and Petit Verdot. The extended ripening period contributed to more intense color, structure, and varietal flavors in the resulting musts.
Overall, the vineyard expresses satisfaction with the harvest results, anticipating elegant, balanced wines with a strong varietal identity. The success of the harvest would not have been possible without the hard work and precision of the dedicated team in both the vineyards and cellar. In the vineyards soon all the vines will go to rest, but not the winemakers, because the work with the accepted grapes in our wine workshop is only now beginning . . .
