What happens after harvest?

A question often left out of discussion, but one of the most important phases in a vineyards annual cycle.

So, what does happen in the vineyards after harvest?

The answer is simple - a lot.

After the bunches has been harvested the vines continues the process of photosynthesis, but instead of transporting the carbohydrates towards the bunches, it gets stored in the root system and the trunk. A grape leaf will only contribute approximately 90 days of its photosynthetic cycle towards growth and berry ripening, where after it will change its trans location from upwards to downwards, in other words towards the roots.

So in basic terms the vine stores food and water for the next season. This is why after harvest fertilizing and irrigation is so important. Having water available is a massive advantage, but here at Darling Cellars we have approximately 95% dryland bush vine. We are completely dependent on the weather. We now wait for the first decent winter rains before we can fertilize, otherwise the fertilizer would be wasted as it can not get flushed into the soil.

When the conditions no longer favour nutrient uptake or the plant is saturated, the chlorophyll in the leaves start to break down and the leaves turn yellow. When leaves turn red it is either due to Leaf Roll ( a virus, but only shows red leaves on Red grape cultivars), or it is Teinturier grapes.

Leaf Roll Virus

A lot of other chemical processes are happening as well, but none that I can explain in a single blog entry. Maybe another time.