Once upon a time on a fairly cool day, the famous investigator Sherlock Holmes wondered one thing: "Now I know that harvesting is the action of picking the grapes! Yes, no bunch, no fermentation, it's logical, let's see, even a rookie could deduce something like that! Well, well where were we ? Oh yes, the harvest, my dear Watson, there's a mystery to be solved !
Well, my dear Sherlock, we have to investigate the Determination of the Date of the Grape Harvest.
That's when Mrs Hudson came out of nowhere and started to explain:
The importance of determining the date of the harvest is of prime importance for the quality of the grapes, this date varies according to the climatic conditions, but also according to the type of wine sought: sweet, dry, etc.". In each region the date of the beginning of the harvest is set by a commission of experts. This date can vary from one grape variety to another. Failure to respect this rule can lead to the loss of the appellation! Can you imagine, my dear Sharlock? Ah, I forgot you have to pay your rent at the end of this worry!"
Alright Mrs Husdon, I need to hear from other witnesses to find out how this date is determined 📆! Um, Mr Lestrade? Can you give us a clearer explanation?
"For centuries, the choice of harvest date has been an evolutionary one: the appearance of the bunch and the berries, the more or less sweet flavour of the grapes, etc. Referring to archival documents, it is quite surprising to note that some winegrowers were able to determine with great precision the best time to harvest. No doubt because, without any scientific data, our ancestors possessed a spirit of observation that seems to be forgotten nowadays. Nowadays we have clues that allow us to determine with precision the different stages of maturity."
Thank you very much, Mr Lestrade! Well, my dear Watson, here's another strange case for you to solve. What have you found on your side?
"My dear Sherlock, you should know that the sugar/acidity ratio has a direct impact on quality, despite the different grape varieties! And it's the maximum sugar content (Poux index, be careful, not like the bugs that walk around on your head! ) that allows us to detect industrial maturity."
Sherlock looked at him in amazement,
"How do you know all this, my dear friend?"
"Let's see, we know there's a sommelier not far from here, so I've been asking him!"
"Well, my dear Watson, can you find any clues as to what factors are involved in this vintage affair?"
"Indeed, do you imagine that only yesterday Mary Morstan, my dear wife, brought this to my attention?
"Irrespective of the statutory criteria, the date is fixed according to the quantity desired, that quantity being in relation to the weight of the grapes. Can you imagine that with grapes affected by noble rot (over-ripe), the yield will obviously be lower than with grapes picked at maturity? I have also heard that the desired quality also has a say in the story! For some wines, the harvest is sometimes carried out before full maturity, this allows to keep a certain freshness, especially in the southern regions, it is also the case for the elaboration of sparkling wines, because a good acidity fixes the foam setting. When climatic conditions are favourable (heat and humidity), some winegrowers seek "overmaturation" to make sweet or syrupy wines (Bordeaux, Bergerac, Loire Valley, Alsace ...) ".
Suddenly Sherlock's face lit up and he said:
"My dear friends, I think we've finally cracked the solution to this mystery, after all, it was only a story of revenge... EU Vintage sorry ( French joke ) !
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