Charlie Davis
Junior
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2024
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 3
Picking Cabernet franc today with only 20 brick because we are getting 15 straight days of rain. What do others do when rain is coming?
Picking grapes before rain comes
- Thread starter Charlie Davis
- Start date
Help Support Winemaking Talk - Winemaking Forum:
Don't know what your GDD numbers are for North Carolina but it would seem like you would have time to wait it out and let things dry out a bit. More hang time is especially good if you have not reached full ripeness. Do you have a pH number? That would be a big number to know.
Also Cab Franc is notorious for tasting/smelling like green bell pepper if picked early and not fully ripened so unless your intend to use this as a blending component for your wine if its not fully ripened your gonna get a massive amount of that green bell pepper note.
Also Cab Franc is notorious for tasting/smelling like green bell pepper if picked early and not fully ripened so unless your intend to use this as a blending component for your wine if its not fully ripened your gonna get a massive amount of that green bell pepper note.
Last edited:
Ohio Bob
Senior Member
You may want to investigate yeasts that are recommended for under ripe fruit. I don’t grow grapes but I’ve seen the yeast guide at Morewine has some recommendations.
same as you or cover with wall insulation mylar plastic. 20 brix is not great but its ok. You can also make a rose from it.
I had this happen last year here in Washington State... what to do. I let it ride. I didn't keep a close enough eye on them and a week later many clusters had grapes that split due to the swelling, rotted and spread to the entire cluster. Tend to them like a new born! Keep an eye on them!
![[Upgraded] 9Pcs Tree Root Growing Box with Drain Holes, Half Transparent Plant Rooting Propagation Ball & Metal Core Twist Ties, for Fast Propagation Plants (Size M)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/514MWQxtWOL._SL500_.jpg)
@Charlie Davis How did it work out? Did you pick early and how does it look?
picked about 75 lbs Marechal Foch yesterday and finished culling out moldy berries this morning. Destemmed and crushed this morning just before it rained. Then pressed and sieved at SG 1.076 to make a rose after chaptalizing with cane sugar to SG 1.085 and seeding with Regent 71B yeast starter in a secondary fermenter (polyethylene).
