As the summer heat begins to wane and the days grow shorter, a familiar excitement fills the air at Van Till Family Farm Winery. It’s harvest season, a time when our vineyard comes alive with the bustling activity of grape picking, processing, and the start of the magical transformation from fruit to wine.
From Vineyard to Tank
The journey of each bottle of wine begins in the vineyard, where our grapes have been ripening under the Missouri sun. This year, the white grapes have been the stars of the early season, carefully handpicked at just the right moment to ensure the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. These grapes, whether from our own vines or from other trusted local Missouri growers, are swiftly brought to our winery for processing.
Once the grapes arrive, they’re introduced to our stemmer-crusher. This machine is crucial in the initial stages of winemaking, gently separating the grapes from their stems and lightly crushing them to release the juice. For our white wines, the next step is pressing—the crushed grapes are transferred to the press, where the juice is carefully extracted from the skins and seeds. This step is vital to produce the clear, crisp juice that will soon become our signature white wines.
Into the Tanks
After pressing, the grape juice is moved into tanks where fermentation begins. Under careful temperature control, yeast is added to the tanks, and the fermentation process transforms the sweet juice into a complex and aromatic wine. Our winemaking team closely monitors this process, ensuring that the flavors develop just as they should.
Anticipation for the Reds
As we continue to process our white grape harvest, we eagerly await the moment when our red grapes are ready to be picked. Unlike white wines, red wines require a slightly different approach. After the red grapes are stemmed and crushed, they undergo fermentation with the skins still intact, a key step that imparts the rich color and deep flavors characteristic of red wine.
Once fermentation is complete, the wine is pressed to separate the liquid from the solid grape material. This is when the true character of the red wine begins to emerge, and it’s a process we approach with both precision and care.
A Season of Celebration
Harvest season is not just a time for hard work; it’s a time of celebration. It’s a reminder of the connection between the land, the vine, and the wine that eventually finds its way to your glass. Each bottle we produce carries the story of this season, the dedication of our team, and the unique qualities of Missouri’s terroir.
As we continue through this busy season, we look forward to sharing the fruits of our labor with you. Whether you’re a long-time friend of the winery or a new visitor, we invite you to come experience the vibrancy of harvest season at Van Till Family Farm Winery. There’s nothing quite like tasting a wine that’s just begun its journey from vine to bottle.
Cheers to a bountiful harvest and the beautiful wines to come!
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