bernie's corner
  
Wines awards

 

WINEMAKER’S NOTES
HARVEST 2007

September 28, 2007
Well, it was a busy week for Wojtek and the guys. We picked a lot of fruit this week for our Rosé. This was Bernies’ week. We ‘machine’ picked about 47tons of Merlot for Rose’. In addition to the Merlot we also picked a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc and our Pinot Noir for red wine. The Pinot we picked yesterday was beautiful. The Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc were both hand picked.

Pinot Noir is never harvested this late on Long Island. However, because of the beautiful weather we have been able to give the Pinot more time on the vine. This has allowed for more intense flavors to develop and a brix(sugar level) of 24 degrees!

Our Merlot for Bernie Rose’ was picked by machine. In order to pick the same amount of fruit (48tons) in two days it would take approximately 20 pickers per day. Our machine picker requires one operator. It is great for speed and efficiency. It is amazing how the machine picks such clean fruit leaving only the rachis (stems, pronounced rake-iss) of each cluster. Once again Matt has taken some great shots of the machine picker in action. Check them out:
Click to enlarge


Some may wonder how the machine gets the grapes off of the rachis? Well, the machine has 'shakers' that shake the vine at the fruit zone. This allows the fruit to fall off and is collected and placed into bins on the sides of the machine. When these bins are filled the fruit is then transferred into a gondola and then soon crushed.

We have a little break for the weekend, but we will begin picking again next week. I am watching Viognier and Chardonnay closely. We have this small chance of rain tonight, but then the ten-day forecast is looking awesome once again.

As always, Drink what you like; like what you drink!!!
Juan Eduardo Micieli-Martinez – Winemaker