tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post1464179464172823241..comments2023-10-10T14:43:29.795-04:00Comments on Brooklynguy's Wine and Food Blog: Hand vs Machine HarvestingBrooklynguyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16321573602782343974noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-24385093459377257382007-12-12T10:13:00.000-05:002007-12-12T10:13:00.000-05:00We had two bottles and they were both like that, a...We had two bottles and they were both like that, although they did come from the same source, so they could easily both have been damaged. Thing is though, cork was below the rim on both, and there was no seepage or anything.Brooklynguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16321573602782343974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-7088486853192050872007-12-08T19:39:00.000-05:002007-12-08T19:39:00.000-05:00Hey Neil,Mike/Wicker's comments are very well put....Hey Neil,<BR/>Mike/Wicker's comments are very well put. For further discussion on the impact of machinery on the soil, you might want to revisit my post on <A HREF="http://mcduffwine.blogspot.com/2007/11/domaine-barms-buecher-february-2004.html" REL="nofollow">Domaine Barmes-Buecher</A>.<BR/><BR/>If there's a positive to the option of machine harvesting that hasn't been brought up here, it's quickness. In a growing area where the weather tends to turn sour at harvest time, machine harvesting can increase the chance of getting most or all of one's fruit in before the rain, hail, frost, etc., starts. Otherwise, the merits of hand harvesting certainly outweigh the convenience and economic advantage of machination.<BR/><BR/>As to the strange color and aromas of the regular Grosbois Chinon you tried, your description leads me to think the bottle was most likely heat damaged.David McDuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03274955351036700406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-11361010531476334192007-12-08T16:09:00.000-05:002007-12-08T16:09:00.000-05:00hey steve - yup, pure economics at work. but can i...hey steve - yup, pure economics at work. but can it be done without sacrificing quality?<BR/><BR/>hi mike - you know, i hadn't even thought of that, the idea that the heavy equipment needed for machine harvesting actually compresses the soil in an unnatural way. agree with everything else you said, makes a lot of sense. thanks for stopping byBrooklynguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16321573602782343974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-58296959049530911652007-12-08T12:47:00.000-05:002007-12-08T12:47:00.000-05:00I've read that machine harvesting negatively affec...I've read that machine harvesting negatively affects both drainage and oxygen distribution, as the soil gets compacted. <BR/><BR/>There are variables, of course. Whereas harvesting might involve but one tractor trip per year, tilling requires still more passes through the vineyard, and application of herbicides still more (if not done via plane). And how sensitive is the soil to begin with, and how deep to the roots plunge?<BR/><BR/>When just considering harvesting alone, I should think that rigorous triage would overcome some if not most of the flaws possible in machine-harvested crops. But that's reducing a negative, whereas manual harvesting can enhance the positives from the crop -- selecting the right bunches at the right time, for example -- especially if taking multiple passes through the vineyard.<BR/><BR/>I'm not a grape grower, so what do I know... But it's my impression that for these reasons and others, hand-harvesting organically or biodynamically grown grapes is apt to lead to higher quality wine.Wicker Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15976225032244371755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-53852398030554547562007-12-07T17:43:00.000-05:002007-12-07T17:43:00.000-05:00An experienced person would be able to exercise mu...An experienced person would be able to exercise much more discretion when selecting grapes for harvest than any machine. I don't think I've heard anyone extol the virtues of machine harvesting--its advantage seems strictly economic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-36977981298408225422007-12-06T18:37:00.000-05:002007-12-06T18:37:00.000-05:00hi joe - hope you had fun in NYC. seems like you d...hi joe - hope you had fun in NYC. seems like you dug the pizza at least. thanks for sending DRC my way, but it doesn't have to be first class, honestly. <BR/><BR/>hi christian - i agree with you re old vines as the dominant variable. neither wine saw any oak though, as far as i can tell from the producer's notes. this is not an easy test to do because it is impossible to control for all of the variables without a grower and a producer being a willing participant in the experiment.and yup, i would guess that there are very few spots in the US where harvest is manual. we like machines.thanks for your thoughtful comments.<BR/><BR/>hey lyle - suits me - i love the three you mentioned. wait - is bossard making dom. louvetrie, or is that someone else? i like those wines, whoever that is. never seen sauvion though. i'll keep my eyes open, and thanks.Brooklynguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16321573602782343974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-78791797313456750342007-12-06T17:00:00.000-05:002007-12-06T17:00:00.000-05:00Pretty much the best way to do this experiment is ...Pretty much the best way to do this experiment is with Muscadet. Taste some crappy bottle . . . say Jean Sauvion (Wine Wizard of the Loire!) versus some real soulful stuff like Olliver, Luneau-Papin and/or Bossard and the difference shines. Most of Muscadet is machine-harvested so the hand-picked ones are of much better quality.Lyle Fasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10691042953720294290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-55040741326059425682007-12-05T23:35:00.000-05:002007-12-05T23:35:00.000-05:00Interesting experiment. I do wonder however if th...Interesting experiment. I do wonder however if the dominant variable in your test is older vines rather than hand-vs-machine picked. Another difference may come from the quantity of new-versus-old oak in both wines.<BR/><BR/>I think another interesting angle with hand harvesting is the affinity various areas around the world have with either hands or machines. I wonder what the proportion of machine-vs-manual is in the US where employing in the vineyard is probably one of the cheapest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799854524070158890.post-36319657861571066482007-12-05T22:07:00.000-05:002007-12-05T22:07:00.000-05:00DRC sent me an email asking how to get in touch wi...DRC sent me an email asking how to get in touch with BKG - they want to fly you out (first class) to Burgundy to see if the hand harvesting is ok. ;)Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07747056255576335926noreply@blogger.com