The harvesting machine

We invested in a new grape harvester this year. This is a multipurpose
machine that can be used for other vineyard operations such as trimming,
leaf thinning, etc. above and beyond harvesting grapes. These machines
have made enormous strides in recent years. They are now very
technically sophisticated and the quality of the fruit is remarkable.


The hand picking

However, every year we make sure to pick the grapes that go into
Cuvée Valentine Rouge and Chateau Manos by hand.  People enjoy
themselves as they work – even if they often end up with a back ache
at the end of the day!

We need to wait for the grapes on the slopes where our old vines grow
to be perfectly ripe to make Cuvée Valentine Rouge. The fruit is brought
immediately after picking to the cellar for crushing and destemming before
fermentation.

We pick the grapes for Château Manos when overripe and affected
by Botritys cinérea, more familiarly known as "noble rot". This fungus
perforates the grapes, which are then dehydrated by the warm
afternoon sun – thereby concentrating sugar and aromas.
Only those sufficiently "rotten” are harvested, i.e. picked by hand.
This means going through the vineyard very carefully.  How odd that
such a "golden" wine is made from such grapes!!!
Nature is truly wonderful!!!