We are already thinking about harvest time before even one grape has been seen in the vineyard this year. In order for the 2017 harvest to be the best harvest yet, we have purchased a Braud mechanical harvester (that ominous blue machine in background!) and a trailer. Pictured here, Austin (Vineyard owner) gives his granddaughter Eleora a ride on the trailer using the hydraulic lift. This new equipment will afford us the opportunity to get the freshest grapes possible to wineries quickly. The harvester is capable of gathering an acre's worth of grapes in 45 minutes and the trailer has the capacity to haul 5 tons of grapes at once. We're about 6 months away, but I can almost taste the grapes now!
It's hard to tell who is having more fun in this photo!