it's grape harvest time

September is harvest time in the Bulgarian wine country. The fall colors of the vines and trees are beautiful, and the vines and grapes are getting ready for the big day every day. The red, yellow and orange hues of autumn add to the festive picture of winemakers and wine lovers. The wineries are bustling and busy with grape picking and wine making. The September harvest is unique in its kind. The grape season is celebrated with fun activities like grape stomping, wine tasting, folk dancing and more.
Undoubtedly, the grape harvest is one of the most exciting moments, weaving together the spirit of Bulgaria, hard work and love for wine. The love for what you grow and the satisfaction of closing the winemaking cycle. This tradition transports you to the magic of winemaking in Bulgaria, unfolding the long, laborious and painstaking journey of Bulgarian wine. The grape harvest in Bulgaria is one of the most important steps in the winemaking process. According to old traditions, the grape harvest was around Easter - September 14th, but due to changes in climatic conditions, it can be shifted by a few days. Weather can also “shape” the harvest schedule, depending on heat, rain, hail and frost, which can damage the grapes and lead to various vine diseases. In addition to determining the time of harvest, Bulgarian wine producers and vineyard owners must also determine whether to use hand pickers or mechanical harvesters.
Harvest time is primarily determined by the ripeness of the grapes, measuring sugar, acid and tannin levels.
The grape harvest in Bulgaria is most often done by hand, and in ancient times this role was mainly performed by women, as it is believed that a woman's hand is more gentle and will preserve the freshness and integrity of the fruit. The fruit, in turn, had to be well ripe to be plucked, for if plucked unripe, the year would be sour. Traditionally, during the grape harvest in Bulgaria, special wooden troughs, called sharapan, were used to pour the harvested crop.