Geek out on Wine Berry Sensory Analysis (BSA)

Geek out on Wine with Brad as he conducts Berry Sensory Analysis (BSA) on our grapes.  You will go into the vineyard (closed in shoes required) and pick a random sample of grapes from one variety and then bring them back to the winery to start the assessment.   You will remove the berries from the stalk, peel the skin from the pulp, remove the seeds from the pulp, chew on the skins, chew on the seeds and suck on the pulp.  Every element of the grape bunch including the stalks add a flavour or character to the wine.

Key elements of BSA include:

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  Softness: Evaluating how easily the berry can be squeezed and the consistency of the pulp, which provides insight into maturity and sugar development.

  
  


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  Stalk Removal: Assessing how easily the stalk detaches from the berry. Easier separation typically indicates ripeness and reduced greenness in the fruit.

  
  


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  Standardised Descriptors: A consistent set of 20 terms is used to describe characteristics of the stem, skin, pulp, and seeds. This structured approach helps compare ripeness levels across varieties and blocks.

  
  


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  Aroma: Smelling the berries is a critical part of the process, offering early clues about the potential flavour profile of the finished wine.

  
  

Berry Sensory Analysis enables informed decision-making in the vineyard. By combining tactile, visual, and aromatic observations, winemakers can fine-tune harvest timing to avoid underripe or overripe fruit—both of which can negatively impact wine style and balance. BSA is especially valuable for boutique producers who seek precision and character in small-batch, site-expressive wines.

This is a super fun, hands-on, inclusive experience which will help as determine if the grapes are ready to pick - yep, we will make a decision based on your assessment of the grapes.  Don't worry Brad will be with you to guide you the whole time, just watch out he doesn't rope you into a picking day as well as a bonus extra at no additional cost

Price includes some wine sampling