August 13, 2026 - 0 comments
No Machine Harvester. Ever.
For Jura natural winemaker Didier Grappe, harvest is about much more than getting grapes from the vine into the cellar.
A grape harvester works by shaking the vines, mechanically knocking the grapes loose and sorting them as it moves through the rows. For Didier, there is something deeply uncomfortable about that process.
“The grape harvesting machine is something that shakes the vines… but in a way that’s incredibly violent for the vines,” he explains.
It’s not simply about the machine itself. Didier loves the human side of harvest: the people, the atmosphere and the careful work that happens among the vines. He describes watching the harvest team’s movements as they sorts the grapes, removing the bad ones and gently placing the good ones down.
“We love our harvest team and the atmosphere of the harvest so much that we’ll never let a grape-harvesting machine near these vines.”
At Didier Grappe, the harvest remains a moment shared between people and vines. Slow, physical and hands-on, exactly the way he wants it to be.
Discover more about Didier Grappe on Raisin and his approach to natural wine in our podcast interview, “Didier Grappe: The Jura in Resistance.”
