Fall is here, the harvest season is upon us and we are excited.

The weather is cooler, and the grapes in the Finger Lakes are ripening. Our efforts for the past year have led up to this harvest season. It is the most beautiful time of the year, with the smell of ripe grapes filling the air.

While harvest season may be the most crucial time of the year for us, it is also the best time for you to visit our winery. Whether you’re a returning visitor or a first-time guest, fall is a great time to grace the tasting room of Miles Wine Cellars.

For a visitor, there is much to do in our winery during the fall harvest season. For starters, during this time of the year, we get visitors from different parts of the country. This is a great place to sip and enjoy the variety Miles is known for.  Here you can enjoy an early taste of our silky Lemberger and structured Cabernet Franc, among other iconic wines.

We do grow and tend the grapes ourselves. Visiting the winery will let you see our pickers at work.

Doug Miles

What makes the perfect Harvest period? 

The timing of the grapes harvest is the most critical decision for a grower each year. Harvest too early or too late, and the effects on the resulting wine’s taste may be disastrous.

Two essential factors determine the right grapes to pick;

1.      Sweetness Level

The sweetness level of a grape, measured in Brix, will determine the alcohol concentration of the resulting wine. The more sucrose in the grape, the more alcohol produced during fermentation. It is for this reason that wine grapes are sweeter than table grapes.

Whereas an experienced winegrower can know which grapes to pick from their taste, the hydrometer is commonly used to measure Brix.  Since an ABV of around 14% is preferred in wine, the Brix of harvested grapes usually is around 25. Thus, every part of the vineyard must be harvested at the right time, to provide the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity.

2.      Physiological Ripeness

A grape also needs to be ripe as much as it needs to be sweet. For a grape to be considered physiologically ripe, other parts like the stem, seeds, and skin must also be ripe. These parts have a direct impact on how the wine tannin tastes, which in turn, affects the wine’s aftertaste.

Autumn is our most popular time of the year when guests visit our winery, and inn.  This is our favorite time of the year, and it can be yours too. Check our website to enjoy fantastic accommodations with great views and lake access. Join us at Miles Wine Cellars in the Finger Lakes this harvest for a memorable wine tasting experience.