Harvest, Crush, Press Chardonnay 2022

It was bitter cold this morning when we started to pick. A big change from a week ago. Today was the last day available before a lot of rainy weather and colder temps.

We ended up with 290 lbs of fruit. 27 gallons of must which pressed into 16 gallons of juice all tucked away for the winter in the freezer.

Brix 21-24°, pH 3.15, TA 8.1

Bitter cold morning

First vine fruit

Some powdery mildew this year

Records

1/2 the harvest

The other 1/2

Unconventional method to wash off superficial mildew

Stems

Getting a brix read (sugar content)

A beautiful mind!!
Harvest notes

Crushed and ready to press

Assembling the press

What’s left after press

Pressed Chardonnay

2nd batch

Repeat

12 gallons

3 gallons

3 more gallons

Driving the grapes up
the hill in a motorized cart

Crush

More crushing

Free run

Pressed juice