https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/food/2015-07-22/its-harvest-time-at-flat-creek-estate/

It's Harvest Time at Flat Creek Estate

By Virginia B. Wood, July 22, 2015, 11:45am, On the Range

Pinot Grigio grapes are always the first to ripen at Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard near Marble Falls. The folks out there could use some help with the harvest this weekend.

Though the spring rains have made the harvest later than usual this year, the grapes that make up Flat Creek's award-winning Pinot Grigio and other white wines are ready now. In addition to participating in a crucial aspect of the overall winemaking process, volunteer pickers will be honored guests at the annual Harvest Dinner prepared by vineyard chef Sean Fulford, scheduled for September 26 this year.

Picking starts early, and the winery owners will provide coffee, water, Gatorade, and a snack for all the volunteers – in addition to plenty of harvesting tools. Based on their years of experience, they strongly suggest volunteers come prepared with the following items: sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, sneakers, gardening gloves, and a favorite pruning tool of your own, if you prefer. They would appreciate it if volunteers could confirm their participation in advance at events@flatcreekestate.com.

Pickers need to be at the winery by 6am. There will be a brief description of what to look for in healthy grapes as well as a demonstration of the safest way to remove clusters from the vine. Then it's off to the vineyard where picking will last until 10am or noon, depending on the heat.

Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard
Sat.-Sun., July 25-26, 6am
24912 Singleton Bend East (Near Marble Falls), 512/267-6310

www.flatcreekestate.com