Wine has a story to tell

Wouldn't it be something if everything in life just lined up to be...predictable?

But then again, life wouldn't have the mystery, the plot twists, the pushes and pulls that make our stories interesting and unique.

And if everything were predictable...wine certainly wouldn't be as cool either.

The thing about wine is, much like people, it's got a story to tell.

One about land and time.

What the heck happened that year.

This is what can make one vintage completely unique from the last.

Harvest season questions with answers from a Minnesota winemaker

Carlos Creek Winery Head Winemaker Russ Funk is here to help fill in part of wine's story and answer all your burning Minnesota wine and harvest season questions.

Is grape harvest the same time every year?

No! It's completely dependent on the weather. Heat, precipitation, cool nights, cloud cover, and sunshine all play a part in the quality of grapes and the timing of harvest. For instance, back in 2023 Carlos Creek Winery harvested grapes in early August, one of the earliest times ever for us in Minnesota. It was a very hot, smoky year. In 2026, it's looking like the end of August/early September.

What impacts a harvest timeline?

We could come out tomorrow and think one more week, but then we could get hot weather and three days later the grapes are ready. At that point when they're tasting perfect, we have to pick them immediately. In a matter of two hours, we can get the mechanical harvester up and running, and within five hours total...the grapes will be in our hands.

What's the 2026 harvest season look like?

Carlos Creek Winery grapes got off to a slow start for the 2026 season. With cold spring nighttime temperatures, the grapes woke up two weeks later than last year. In 2025, there was a lot of rain in the Alexandria Lakes area and and temperatures didn't get high so the grapes grew at a slower pace. With heat this year, the grapes grew faster. We are now looking like we'll be picking two weeks ahead of schedule.

How do you plan for harvest?

To plan for harvest, we watch the grapes. All summer, the grapes are a bright green color. When they go through veraison (a fancy term for changing colors) in late July or August, they turn purple, accumulate sugar and develop flavors.

Every week take a sample by squishing the juice out to check the sugar content. After the sugar rises, acid goes down, and PH comes up, then it's time to start to tasting the grapes.

How do you know when to pick them?

After veraison, the most important factor is taste. Winemakers can adjust acid, sugar, and PH but only mother nature can affect flavor. The elements, the soil, and the climate throughout ripening season all determine when to pick. The seeds inside the grape will turn from green to brown indicating ripeness, adequate sugar, and acid for balance and flavor. Then we taste, and check the acid, sugar, and PH levels. When all is perfect, harvest is ready to begin.

What do you do when it's time to harvest?

We pick them! What used to take us 3 days to pick by hand we can get done in a few hours with our mechanical harvester. We drive it down the rows, shake the vines, and the berries fall off. Then, they go into the hopper and we bring them into the crush pad inside the winery.

The time between picking and getting the grapes into the tank is one of the most critical times in a wine's life. Grapes start to deteriorate immediately after they are picked so the more wait time we can avoid, the better wine we can make.

Harvest is the perfect season to visit a Minnesota winery

Just like life, harvest season always comes with a few surprises. One of the best times to visit a Minnesota winery is during the exciting time of harvest season. You can see the harvester out picking the berries, and even stroll up the hill and see the winemaking team in action as they crush.

Visiting a winery during harvest season gives you a whole new appreciation for what you're sipping in your glass. You experience a wine's story up close and personal.

About Carlos Creek Winery:

Established in 1999, Carlos Creek Winery has been crafting award-winning wines for more than 26 years in the heart of the Alexandria Lakes Area. As Minnesota’s largest winery and a second-generation family-owned business, Carlos Creek is dedicated to sustainability, community, and creating authentic experiences that bring people together.

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