Volunteer grape pickers needed starting this coming weekend!!!
Let us know or just show up at noon Saturday and Sunday 9/17 9/18 9/24 9/25.
But what does that mean for you as a volunteer, you ask?
Of course anything outdoors is more fun if the weather cooperates, and this year it looks like it’s going to. Upon arrival we will instruct pickers which area of the vineyard to go to as we have 11 different varieties and we only pick 1 or 2 each day. Bring your favorite garden pruning shears or scissors. It is best to clean them well with hot soapy water before and after to avoid bringing any disease from your garden or back to it, and they get really sticky. Some people prefer to wear garden gloves as well. We are doing our best to destroy the mosquito population but bug spray might be needed as well. One picker will stand on each side of a row and clip the whole grape cluster into a 5 gallon pail. Sampling the grapes is always a must, they have a tough skin and contain seeds but are so sweet and delicious! When your pail is full, one of us will load it up onto a trailer and provide you with an empty one, so no heavy lifting. We will have coolers in the vineyard with water, pop, wine, and beer (for those 21+). The amount of time spent picking is relative to how many people come to help. As soon as we’re finished for the day or around 5:00, whichever comes first, we will provide a meal for all volunteers and bottles of wine will be given to you to take home as a “thank you!”
Other perks include: learning more about vineyards and cold hardy grape varieties, meeting new people, enjoying the outdoors, seeing grape “crush” first hand, learning more about the beginning wine making processes, and what harvest at a winery is all about.
Come help us enjoy the best time of year in the vineyard, when we can enjoy the “fruit” of our labor!!!