We pick early September - early October, till grapes are gone

Tuesdays 10am-4pm    Saturday 10am-4pm      Sunday 10am-4pm

Vineyard Grape Picking & Processing Guide

Welcome to the vineyard! Below you’ll find everything you need to know about picking grapes, using our equipment, and preparing your harvest for winemaking at home.

The Picking Season

Grapes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not reserve fruit or set limits on how much customers may pick. Large orders, even 1,000 pounds or more, are possible — but keep in mind that someone else may harvest the grapes you were hoping for if you wait. Grapes are often at their best for only a short window, so waiting too long may mean missing your chance.

To keep things fair, we do not allow early picking for individual customers. Occasionally, we may close off a row if it has already been promised to a winery.

Picking Options

You are welcome to pick grapes with no limits once you arrive. If you prefer, we can pick grapes for you. The charge for this service is $0.35 per pound. Please let us know in advance so we can make sure we have enough pickers to help!

What We Provide

We supply everything you need for harvest day:

• Picking shears
• Buckets in 4, 5, and 6.5 gallon sizes
• Crushers and de-stemmers
• Presses (for white grapes and for pressing red grapes after fermentation)

Each bucket size is labeled with how many pounds it holds, and you’ll also find signs showing how many pounds of grapes it takes to make a gallon of wine.

How to Pick

Picking grapes at our vineyard is simple and enjoyable. Here’s how it works:

1. Choose your variety. Start at our table, where you may taste the grapes to decide. Feel free to sample a few while you’re in the vineyard — it’s hard to resist!
2. Find your rows. We’ll mark them for you on a vineyard map.
3. Collect your buckets. Choose the size that works best for your vehicle and winemaking plans.
4. Pick with clippers. Fill your buckets as full as you’d like; you can always return for more.
5. Weigh your harvest. Help us measure your grapes at the scale.
6. Crush and process.
   • For red grapes, crushing and de-stemming is the last step until fermentation.
   • For white grapes, you’ll move on to pressing, filling your container, and securing it for transport.

Crushing and Pressing

Crushing the grapes you pick here is always free. We ask that you have your grapes ready for pressing at least an hour and a half before the vineyard closes.

For red grapes, we will crush, de-stem them, and press for you. Depending on your wine making style, it may be recommended to allow red grapes to ferment before pressing. You can bring them back for pressing or press them at home by pouring them into a nylon bag and squeezing lightly. Red grapes can develop better flavor and tannins when they ferment on the skins for 3–10 days (including Concords).

For white grapes, the juice is pressed immediately after crushing. Be sure to bring the right container to transport your juice (see What to Bring below).

If you’d like to lend a hand on a busy day, just ask us, we’ll happily show you how the equipment works.

What to Bring

To make your winemaking experience smooth, please bring the right containers and ingredients with you:

• For red wines: A primary fermenter made of food-grade plastic. These usually travel well without splashing, but be sure they stay upright during transport.
• For white wines: A tightly sealed container, such as a 1–6 gallon glass carboy or sealable plastic jug, so the juice won’t spill on the way home. Secure containers carefully in your vehicle.

You’ll also need common winemaking ingredients, including:

• Sulfite (Campden tablets)
• Pectic enzyme
• Yeast nutrient
• Any additional ingredients you prefer

If you forget something, don’t worry — we keep a supply of common items such as sterilizers, yeast, fermentation locks, carboys, tubing, hydrometers, and acid test kits.

For a complete selection, we recommend The Wine & Hop Shop at 1919 Monroe Street in Madison, just 15 miles north of the vineyard. Visit www.wineandhop.com or call 608-257-0099 for details.