What Does Harvest Prep Really Look Like?

At Pressley Vineyards, one of the questions we get asked most often is, “What does harvest prep actually consist of?”

Most people picture harvest as the exciting moment when the grapes are finally picked, but the truth is that a successful harvest starts weeks before the first cluster ever leaves the vine. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what July looks like for us.

It All Starts with Timing

For us, harvest preparation typically begins right after the Fourth of July. We grow early-ripening varieties, which means our fruit is often among the first to be harvested each season.

In the weeks leading up to harvest, we’re in the vineyard several times a week collecting data. One of the most important tasks is sugar sampling, where we measure the grape’s sugar levels (Brix) to help determine the ideal picking window. Picking too early or too late can dramatically impact the finished wine, so timing is everything.

At the same time, we’re collecting cluster weights to estimate our crop size. Understanding how much fruit is on the vines helps us build our harvest schedule, determine how many harvest crews and trucks we’ll need, and coordinate with the winery so everything runs smoothly.

Preparing the Vineyard

As harvest approaches, we begin tidying up the vineyard. Excess shoot growth is trimmed back to improve access to the fruit and make harvesting more efficient. While it gives the vineyard a cleaner appearance, it’s also an important step in helping our crews move quickly and safely through the rows.

Behind the scenes, we’re also servicing tractors, trailers, lights, and other equipment to make sure everything is ready before the busy season begins. Harvest often starts before sunrise—or continues well after sunset—so reliable equipment is essential.

The Final Countdown

In the days leading up to our first pick, things really start to ramp up.

Harvest bins are thoroughly washed and sanitized, the vineyard is irrigated, and the surrounding roads and loading areas are watered down to minimize dust and help keep the fruit and clean bins in the best possible condition.

We also prepare our loading area, where freshly harvested grapes are transferred onto trucks and transported to the winery. Every detail matters when you’re trying to preserve fruit quality from vine to winery.

Almost Harvest Time!

Harvest is shaping up to be an early one this year, and we’re currently anticipating our first pick sometime during the second or third week of July.

It’s an exciting time around the vineyard. Months of farming, pruning, watering, and careful observation all lead up to these first few nights of harvest, and we can’t wait to see what the 2026 vintage has in store.

Have questions about harvest or vineyard life? We’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out anytime—we always enjoy sharing a little behind-the-scenes look at life at Pressley Vineyards.

Cheers,

Brittany & Charlie