The grape harvest is one of the most awaited moments for Familia Martínez Bujanda. It is the result of a year of dedication and hard work in our estates and vineyards. How do we plan to start this stage? We tell you about it:
Vineyard preparation
Although it is a permanent task, the preparation and care of the vineyards takes on special relevance and is the first parameter to control prior to harvest. This includes a series of tasks such as: foliage management to ensure adequate sun exposure and ventilation of the clusters, green pruning to eliminate unwanted clusters, and pest and disease control. These practices help to improve grape health and ensure that the bunches enter the winery in perfect condition.
Control of grape ripening
Before harvesting, it is crucial to control the ripening of the grapes. One of the first indicators is the color and size of the grapes, but this should not deceive us, as the grapes and pips must be really ripe. For this reason, this process involves periodic analyses to measure sugar content, acidity and pH levels. This is essential to determine the optimum time for harvesting, ensuring that the grapes are at their perfect point to produce our wines with the highest quality standards.
Evaluation and selection of plots
Not all plots are harvested at the same time. Depending on the altitude, orientation and grape variety, the clusters of each plot ripen at different rates. For this reason, we evaluate each plot beforehand to decide the order of harvest.
Logistics and planning
Harvesting requires meticulous logistical planning. We coordinate our team of grape harvesters, making sure they have everything they need to work efficiently. We also organize the specialized machinery used for this moment and the transportation of the grapes from the vineyards to the reception hopper, either in boxes as in Finca Valpiedra or in trailers as in Finca Antigua and Finca Montepedroso.
Hygiene and maintenance
All equipment, from the presses to the fermentation tanks, is thoroughly inspected and cleaned to avoid any type of contamination; hygiene must be present throughout the winemaking process. The equipment is also maintained, ensuring that it is in perfect working order to handle the harvest and subsequent processing smoothly.
These are some of the tasks we carry out in our wineries so that everything works and is ready to receive the grape harvest.
Once again, this special time has arrived at our estates and we are preparing not only to produce our wines, but also to welcome wine tourists and offer them unique and unrepeatable experiences that can only be experienced at this time of the year. Discover all that Finca Valpiedra, Finca Montepedroso and Finca Antigua have to offer, such as: a tasting of the first must at Finca Valpiedra and Finca Montepedroso or La Rebusca at Finca Antigua.
Happy harvest!
