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22-499: Matelica lies in an ample valley where the Braccano creek joins the Esino river, dominated by the town from an eastern ravine. The valley, roughly in the north–south direction, is delimited on the east and west sides by Apennines sub-ranges, whose highest peaks are respectively Mount Gemmo at 719 metres (2,359 ft) and Mount San Vicino at 1,479 metres (4,852 ft), compared to

44-405: A climatic threshold in some vineyards where it will be more difficult to maintain the current wine quality, however they could also push some regions into more optimal climatic regimes for the production of equilibred grapes. [REDACTED] Throughout the history of wine , winemakers would use the sugar and acid levels of the grape as a guide in determining ripeness. Early winemakers tasted

66-506: A necessity. A mechanical grape harvester works by beating the vine with rubber sticks to get the vine to drop its fruit onto a conveyor belt that brings the fruit to a holding bin. As technology improves mechanical harvesters have become more sophisticated in distinguishing grape clusters from mud, leaves and other particles. Despite the improvement many harvesters still have difficulties in distinguishing between ripe, healthy grapes and unripe or rotted bunches which must then be sorted out at

88-527: A slightly unripe point to help maintain acidity in the wine. The majority of Northern Hemisphere harvesting occurs in late August to early October with some late harvest wine grapes being harvested throughout the autumn. In Germany, Austria, the United States and Canada, ice wine grapes can be harvested as late as January. In the Southern Hemisphere harvest can begin as early as January 1 in some of

110-490: A somewhat continental climate with cool winters and hot, dry summers. In winter, Matelica occasionally experiences sub-zero temperatures and snowfall between December and February. Highest summer temperatures can be well above 30 °C (86 °F) in July and August. In keeping with the layout of the valley, the dominant winds are along the north–south direction, those from the south being more frequent but weaker than those from

132-409: Is a source of contention in the wine industry. Mechanical harvesting of grapes has been one of the major changes in many vineyards in the last third of a century. First introduced commercially in the 1960s, it has been adopted in different wine regions for various economic, labor and winemaking reasons. In Australia, the reduced work force in the wine industry has made the use of mechanized labor almost

154-418: Is able to run 24 hours a day and pick 80–200 tons of grapes, compared to the 1–2 tons that an experienced human picker could harvest. In hot climates, where picking quickly or in the cool of night is a priority, mechanical harvesting can accomplish these goals very well. Despite the costs, some wineries prefer the use of human workers to hand-pick grapes. The main advantage is the knowledge and discernment of

176-447: Is the only way to measure tannin ripeness, which can take experience and skill to do accurately. Viticulturalists have not yet fully explained the complex processes that go into the ripening of tannins but most believe it begins with the polymerization of small astringent tannins into larger molecules which are perceived by the taste buds as being softer . The question of using mechanical harvesting versus traditional hand picking

198-502: The Adriatic Sea near Falconara Marittima . Since 1995, the area around the Esino has been permitted to produce red and white Italian DOC wines . Grapes are limited to a harvest yield of 12 tonnes/ha with the finished wines requiring a minimum alcohol level of 10.5%. Reds are a minimum 60% of Montepulciano and/or Sangiovese , with other local grape varieties permitted to fill out of

220-579: The Italian unification (1861), save for the brief Napoleonic occupation. The old part of town presents an urban structure dating largely from the Middle Ages, and is punctuated by several palazzi and churches from different periods. Sights in the town include: Esino The Esino ( Italian: [eˈziːno] ; Latin : Aesis ) is a river in the Marche region of central Italy . The source of

242-632: The Lombards in 578, it was subsequently joined to the bishopric of Camerino . From the 9th century, Matelica was under the indirect rule of the Holy Roman Empire (while belonging formally to the Papal States ), then becoming a free municipality in 1160. In 1174, it was again obliterated, this time by the army of Christian I (Archbishop of Mainz) . Since then, Matelica remained part of the Papal States (albeit at times under an independent Governor), until

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264-454: The 354 metres (1,161 ft) above sea-level of the city centre. Matelica borders on the following municipalities: Apiro , Castelraimondo , Cerreto d'Esi , Esanatoglia , Fabriano , Fiuminata , Gagliole , Poggio San Vicino , San Severino Marche . The climate is dictated by the Apennines and, to a lesser extent, by the temperate Adriatic Sea on the east. Consequently, Matelica enjoys

286-669: The calendar year somewhere in the world. In the New World it is often referred to as the crush . The majority of the world's wine producing regions lie between the temperate latitudes of 30° and 50° in both hemispheres with regions lying closer to the equator typically harvesting earlier due to their warmer climates. In the Northern Hemisphere, vineyards in Cyprus begin harvesting as early as July. In California some sparkling wine grapes are harvested in late July to early August at

308-408: The grapes to gauge ripeness. Modern winemakers use a refractometer to measure high sugar levels and °Brix or titration tests (using an indicator such as phenolphthalein ) to determine the titratable acidity within the grape. In recent times there has been more of an emphasis on the "physiological" ripeness of the grape, usually in the form of tannins and other phenolics . Currently, tasting

330-476: The most crucial steps in the process of wine-making . The time of harvest is determined primarily by the ripeness of the grape as measured by sugar , acid and tannin levels with winemakers basing their decision to pick based on the style of wine they wish to produce. The weather can also shape the timetable of harvesting with the threat of heat, rain, hail, and frost which can damage the grapes and bring about various vine diseases . In addition to determining

352-590: The north. The first human settlements in the area can be traced to the Umbri and Picentes and date back to the 1st millennium BC. Later, under Roman rule, Matelica became a municipium (70 BC). Starting from the 5th century AD, it was seat of a bishop, who for a while remained the only authority, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire . The town was then annexed to the Byzantine Empire (552). Destroyed by

374-456: The rest. Whites are predominantly composed of Verdicchio (50–100%), with other local varieties permitted to fill out the rest. This Marche location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Italy is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Harvest (wine) The harvesting of wine grapes ( vintage ) is one of

396-502: The river is east of Monte Penna , in the province of Macerata , near the border with the province of Ancona . The river flows east past Esanatoglia and curves north by Matelica before crossing the border into the province of Ancona near Cerreto d'Esi . The river continues flowing north before curving northeast near Genga . It then flows northeast near Serra San Quirico , Maiolati Spontini , Castelplanio , Castelbellino , Jesi , Chiaravalle and Montemarciano before flowing into

418-525: The time of the harvest, winemakers and vineyard owners must also determine whether to use hand pickers or mechanical harvesters . The harvest season typically falls between August & October in the Northern Hemisphere and February & April in the Southern Hemisphere . With various climate conditions, grape varieties , and wine styles the harvesting of grapes could happen in every month of

440-513: The warmer climate sites in New South Wales , Australia. The majority of Southern Hemisphere harvesting occurs between the months of February and April with some cool climate sites like Central Otago , New Zealand picking late harvest wine grapes in June. Recent climate changes (particularly global warming ) have shifted the harvest season in some countries ; future weather patterns may exceed

462-410: The winemaking facility. Another disadvantage is the potential of damaging the grape skins which can cause maceration and coloring of the juice that is undesirable in the production of white and sparkling wine. The broken skins also bring the risk of oxidation and a loss of some of the aromatic qualities in the wine. One of the benefits of mechanical harvesting is the relatively low cost. A harvester

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484-490: The worker to pick only healthy bunches and the gentler handling of the grapes. The production of some dessert wine like Sauternes and Trockenbeerenauslese require that individual berries are picked from the botrytized bunches which can only be done by hand. In areas of steep terrain, like in the Mosel , it would be virtually impossible to run a mechanical harvester through the vineyard. In many wine regions, migrant workers are

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