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The sounds blasting from the radio across the vineyard were rock and roll and not Chopin, but the scene was straight from the hills of southern France and not southern Delaware.
Nassau Valley Vineyards began its annual grape harvest Wednesday, Sept. 13, harvesting more than two tons of white chardonnay grapes. Soon to follow over the next month will be cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot grapes.
“Overall this harvest will possibly be our best,” said Jesse Pender, Nassau Valley Vineyards grower and wine maker. “It’s been a really good year for whites, but not our best ever.”
More than a dozen people spent about seven hours picking more than 2 acres of grapes. “We have to get them out of the field as quickly as possible once they are picked because temperature is detrimental to grapes,” said Pender.
Following the harvest, the grapes are chilled for one day at 40 degrees, then pressed, and cooled again in time for the fermentation process to begin. Then Pender will work his magic as the wine maker. He said bottles of chardonnay would be on shelves in February or March.
The 6-year-old Nassau vines are young in comparison to most vines. Pender said vines could produce for up to 50 years, but there is no harvest for the first two years as the vines mature.
Pender, who has worked for Nassau Valley Vineyards for almost two years and been in the wine business for four years, said most people equate wineries and vineyards with southern California and France.
“Actually our climate is very similar to the non-Mediterranean parts of France where some of the best grapes in the world are grown,” said Pender.
But, there are challenges to growing grapes in southern Delaware.
“Our biggest difference, compared to California, is around harvest time and the rain we have, primarily from hurricanes. When it gets to harvest season, we have to deal with rain. Rain dictates picking time.”
Rain at the wrong time could damage the skin of the grapes. And in the spring, frost is the nightmare that keeps wine growers awake at night.
The chardonnay harvest was selected in part because of rain forecast for Thursday.
Pender said the grapes are picked when the sugar is at the optimum level, which happens after about 220 days of growing for the white grapes.
“We are looking for cool, dry days the rest of the season,” said Pender.
Those were exactly the conditions on day one of the grape harvest.
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