Exploring the different types of grape harvest

At Bodegas Luzón, the harvest is one of the most crucial times of the year. It is when all the work carried out in the vineyard during the previous months is harvested with precision and care. 

The harvest process, which involves picking the grapes, is not just a question of dates on the calendar. There are different types of harvest that directly affect the quality of the wine that is produced. Over the years, we wineries have perfected our techniques to make the most of the particularities of our land and grapes, opting for the method that best suits our needs for each vintage. 

In our case, most of our vineyards are old, goblet-trained, dry-farmed vineyards, which gives them a unique character and a special resistance to extreme weather conditions. These characteristics oblige us to use manual harvesting for the most part, as it allows a more precise and careful harvesting of the grapes, respecting the integrity of the clusters. As the vineyards have low yields, each grape is valuable and we make sure that only the best ones reach the winery to become our wines.

Furthermore, in the case of our white grapes, we prioritise night harvesting. This technique allows us to maintain the freshness of the grapes, preventing them from heating up in the high daytime temperatures and minimising the risk of oxidation. In this way, we preserve their most delicate aromas and characteristics, obtaining white wines with vibrant acidity and unparalleled freshness, characteristics that define our whites.

Our commitment to tradition, combined with the use of modern techniques such as night harvesting, allows us to offer wines that are a reflection of our land and the passion we put into each vintage.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and let us help you explore the different types of harvest, their characteristics and the advantages they bring both for the grape and for the end result: the wine that reaches our tables.

Manual harvesting

Manual harvesting is undoubtedly the most traditional method and still the most widely used in many wine-growing areas of the world. It consists of the grape pickers selecting the bunches of grapes directly from the vine by hand. This practice requires great physical effort, but also allows for greater precision.

The main advantage of this type of harvest is that it allows a more careful selection of the grapes. By picking them by hand, we can eliminate those that are not in perfect condition, which is essential when we are looking to obtain a high quality wine. In many wineries, hand harvesting is sometimes used in older plots, where the vines produce grapes that require special attention. In addition, this type of harvest is ideal for harvesting in difficult terrain, such as vineyards on hillsides or steep terrain, giving its name to the so-called heroic viticulture.

On the other hand, the fact that the grapes arrive at the winery whole prevents them from oxidising or fermenting prematurely, which can be a significant advantage when we are looking for freshness and purity in the wines.

Mechanical harvesting

As opposed to manual harvesting, we have mechanical harvesting, a process that uses specialised machinery to shake the vines and pick the grapes. This method has gained popularity in recent years due to its speed and efficiency. Harvesting machines are able to cover large areas in a short time, which is ideal for wineries with extensive vineyards.

Among the most outstanding advantages of mechanical harvesting is the speed. We can harvest at the exact moment of ripeness without worrying about labour availability. In areas where the weather can change rapidly, this responsiveness is essential to ensure that the grapes are harvested at their optimum point. However, mechanical harvesting also has some disadvantages, such as the possibility of slightly damaging the grapes during the process or picking some leaves and branches, although more advanced technologies minimise these problems.

Night harvest

A trend that has gained popularity in recent years is night harvesting. As the name suggests, this type of harvest is carried out at night, when temperatures are cooler. The main advantage of this approach is that the grapes are harvested in cooler conditions, which helps to maintain their quality and avoid early fermentation due to the heat of the day.

Many wineries have adopted this method for some of the more delicate vintages, especially those that seek to stand out for their freshness and acidity. Harvesting at night allows the grapes to arrive at the winery in ideal conditions, better preserving their aromas and flavours, resulting in fresher and more elegant wines.

Late harvest

Late harvesting is a technique that consists of leaving the grapes on the vine longer than usual to allow them to reach advanced ripeness. This usually means a higher concentration of sugars and lower acidity, resulting in sweeter wines with a more complex aromatic profile.

This type of harvest is mainly used for the production of sweet wines and dessert wines. Overripe grapes, even affected by the noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), produce wines with great richness and depth. In some wineries, this technique is carried out in certain vintages when climatic conditions permit, thus obtaining wines that are a real prize for the palate.

Harvesting at altitude or climbing harvesting

Another type of harvest that we have seen gaining importance, especially in mountainous areas, is the climbing harvest, or what in recent years has been called heroic viticulture. This technique refers to the harvesting of grapes in vineyards located on steep slopes or at high altitudes. These vineyards are usually planted on terraces, which makes it difficult to use machinery and is therefore done by hand.

The advantage of harvesting at altitude is that grapes grown in these conditions tend to have higher acidity and a more vibrant aromatic profile. Higher altitudes and slopes provide better exposure to the sun and a greater variation in temperature between day and night, which helps to develop greater complexity in the grapes.

Our opinion

At Bodegas Luzón, we firmly believe that the choice of grape harvest must be in harmony with the characteristics of the grape, the soil and the climatic conditions of each year. Whether the grapes are harvested by hand, mechanically, at night, late or at altitude, our aim is always to obtain the best possible result in each bottle of wine.

Each technique has its advantages, but the most important thing is that we put the heart and soul of our team into each harvest. In this way, we ensure that each glass of our wines reflects the passion and care we have invested in each vintage.