PoggioBrandani

Grape Harvest

That is the most important period for a winery.
It starts in September taking samples of berries in all the vineyards located at different levels of altitude.
These grapes are analysed chemically to control mostly the sugar content and acidity.
During this month, in fact, the acidity gradually decreases, increasing the sugar content. When these values are stable, we start the harvest.
In the workshop, however, it is time to reassemble the harvest machine, prepare and control trucks and tractors for the next job.

Luca, Eva and Simone started the 02nd October 2010.
Here are some photos on the various stages of processing.

In the morning we decide the number of vineyards to collect, according to their size, number of plants, test results and time required.

The harvest machine falls in the vineyard chosen to begin the collection.
As you can see from the pictures, the machine is placed above each row and, while it's passing through, the vineyard is shaken and only the grapes are ready fall in the machine.

Usually every 4 / 6 rows, the harvester is full and a tractor brings the grapes from the countryside to the cellar.

Here, the truck full of grapes is placed above the "tramoggia" (a sort of funnel placed above the stemmer-crusher), which serves to move down the grapes.

The operators control the position of the truck is right, then they remove the protectios and raise the back of the truck; so the grapes fall in the "tramoggia".

The grapes are pushed into "stemmer-crusher" as pointed out by the same name, this machine removes the "stalks" (bunch of grapes stripped from the fruit) which would cause unpleasant aromas in the wine, and press the berries.
This pomace of juice, skins and kernels is called Mosto.

At the bottom of the "stemmer-crusher" there is a pump that transfer the Mosto, through a tube, in stainless fermentation tanks located outside of our Winery with controlled temperature.
Inside the tanks left open, the fermentation begins.
Each morning we have to test mainly to control density and temperature.
When these two values will be stabilized, the tanks are closed.

Progetto " Accorcia la filiera del vino nella tradizione"