Published On: October 5, 2024

2024 HARVEST INSIGHTS FROM BVS

It’s a wrap for the 2024 grape harvest in the Willamette Valley, and it’s shaping up to be a memorable one. This vintage, as many before, showcases Oregon’s resilience and commitment to quality winemaking. The Willamette Valley has always been known for its cool climate and diverse terroir, allowing us in the valley to consistently produce exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and many other cooler climate varietals.

This year, the growing season was marked by a mild spring and an unusually warm summer, which allowed the grapes to develop rich flavors and balanced acidity. The trademark cool evenings of early Fall have allowed us to plan and prepare for each pick and maintain harvest quality as we manage the diverse needs of our clients and partners in growth.

Willamette valley harvest

As a custom farming service, we have the opportunity to oversee multiple grape picks across the valley, and we are optimistic about this wine vintage. In most vineyards, the weather conditions have led to slightly earlier ripening, ensuring optimal sugar levels and phenolic maturity on the vine.

Sustainable practices continue to be a priority across Oregon’s AVA’s, with more wineries adopting organic, biodynamic, and LIVE-certified methods to enhance soil health and grape quality. So, the fruit coming in from the vine is of the highest quality for an amazing vintage.

As the 2024 harvest progressed, the Willamette Valley saw long warm days turn to cool evenings/mornings allowing us to really take our time with each pick. When hand-harvesting, morning temps have been ideal in the 70s and below and the fruit is prime.

When employing the Pellenc 680 self-propelled harvester, we were bringing the fruit in throughout the night, ensuring quality control and temperatures that allow our winemaking partners more control of their ferments, and give us more time to deliver the fruit in its best condition to our clients.

Why Night HarvestS?

Night harvesting with a machine harvester offers several advantages for both the quality of the fruit and the overall wine production process. By harvesting during the cooler nighttime temperatures, the fruit remains at a lower temperature, which is crucial in preventing premature fermentation.

This temperature control helps maintain the integrity and freshness of the fruit, ensuring that it reaches the winery in optimal condition. Cooler fruit is easier to handle and process, reducing the risk of spoilage and preserving the desired flavor profiles.

Night harvests also allow for a more efficient workflow, as they provide ample time to manage logistics and fermentation processes before the heat of the day sets in. This practice ultimately supports the production of high-quality wine with consistent and desirable characteristics. The proof is in the bottle, from vine to wine. Early delivery of fruit to the wineries is a huge advantage to the wine staff, giving them ample time to process grapes and hopefully finish up earlier.

what happens on the vine, shows in the wine

That phrase underscores the crucial role that vineyard practices play in determining the final product’s quality, in this case the bottle of wine. From the terroir—encompassing soil, climate, and topography—to meticulous vineyard management, every stage of grape cultivation influences the wine’s character.

Key factors include the choice of clonal variety, pruning techniques, pest and disease control, employing Organic, Biodynamic, or LIVE certified practices in your vineyards, and the timing of each pick for harvest. These elements ensure that the grapes reach optimal ripeness and develop desirable flavors and aromas, leading to the best wine from your vines. Consequently, the attention and care given to the vines manifest in the complexity, balance, and richness of the wine, highlighting the intimate connection between vineyard management and winemaking excellence.

Ask us more about how we can optimize your vineyards growth and ensure a quality harvest in 2025.

Email Sam : [email protected] or find him on LinkedIn.

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Share this Post

Discover More

  • Pruning Vines during the Winter dormant months on the vineyard

    January 24, 2025

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  • Tractor in the middle of two rows of grapes during Fall in the Willamette Valley AVA

    November 20, 2024

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