It’s late August and the dog days of summer are nearly over. The sun’s rays are becoming less strong, and the daylight hours fewer as fall fast approaches. It’s time to prepare ourselves for football, harvest festivals, crisper weather, and the Super Bowl of wine making—the grape harvest!
The North American grape harvest season falls between August and October. Usually picked based on sugar, acid, and tannin levels; grapes ripen and sugars, tannins, and other phenolics develop during this season creating wine’s flavorful base.
Our favorite fall grapes for home winemaking include shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, which create warm complex wines with hints of chocolate, vanilla, cedar, licorice, and black cherry. The perfect compliment for cooler weather and heartier meals. This wine recipe (more wine recipes) will surely be a favorite to make and savor in the months ahead.
Harvest Grape Wine Recipe
- 13 to 15 lbs ripe fall grapes
- 1/3 to 1/2 lb finely granulated sugar
- 1 crushed Campden tablet
- 3/4 tsp pectic enzyme
- 1 pkg Lalvin 71B-1122 yeast
- 1 tsp wine yeast nutrient