If you don't grow grapes, the hardest part of harvesting grapes for wine is finding somewhere to pick them. Some grapes grow wild. Muscadine grapes for example while others have to be cultivated. Many states have a "wine country" and consumers can often find "pick your own" grape operations near these regions. Muscadine grapes grow in and around wooded areas in the countryside. The actual harvest of the grapes takes very little equipment.
Instructions
1. Locate on the grape vine where the stem meets the cluster of grapes.
2. Use the knife to cut the stem as close to the top of the cluster as possible. Try to make the cut on the diagonal instead of just straight across.
3. Carefully lay the cluster of grapes into your basket or bucket. As you add more clusters, lay them in gently so you don't bruise or smash the grapes underneath.
4. Use a second basket or bucket when the first one becomes full. You do not want to break the skins of the grapes by mashing them down before you are ready to make wine.
5. Wash your grapes to remove any dust or chemicals that may be on them when you return home with your harvest.
Tags: basket bucket, cluster grapes, grapes grow, Muscadine grapes
