Grape Scott - a machine too 'smart' for the greens

FRUIT OF DESIGN: Tony Bish (left) says contractor John Patrick's new harvester makes a big difference to wine by taking out the green-flavoured material. Photo / Glenn Taylor Hbt111704-10

A French grape harvester is increasing the quality and profitability of Hawke's Bay wineries.

The Pellenc Selectiv Process harvester delivers nothing but grapes to wineries, meaning fewer hand pickers will be needed.

Myron Bird, sales engineer for the company's New Zealand agent, Hydralada, said Pellenc had gone back to the drawing board.

"They set about a process to pick the perfect grape for the wineries" he said.

"A lot of undesirable material won't blow off with fans.

"Pellenc scratched their heads and came up with the roller-bed system that rejects the leaf stem and grape stalk."

He said as well as the increased grape quality, the savings in labour and freight were significant.

"Because the machines deliver just grapes, there is a lot less volume, meaning it becomes much cheaper when grapes are transported from vineyards to wineries."

Villa Maria have bought five of the harvesters.

Phil Holden, Villa Maria's Gimblett Gravels senior vineyards manager, said the quality of grape delivered was impressive.

"The quality of the thing is why it has taken off. The whole aim is to keep the green flavours out of the wine."

Holden said the harvester was just one of the implements they fitted to their Pellenc tractor, including a four-row sprayer

"It was important that we just couldn't park this up for a big part of the year," he said.

Sacred Hill senior winemaker Tony Bish said sophisticated destemming and destalking made a big difference to his wine.

"It takes out the green-flavoured material from the grape like petioles and rachis," he said.