Early Harvest

Early Harvest: Denotes a wine made from early-harvested grapes, usually lower than average in alcoholic content or sweetness.

Early harvest
Early harvest wines are made from grapes that are picked before they fully mature. The wine is light (and less filling?) because it's low in alcohol.

Early Harvest: Not what you would guess; early harvest refers to time of year, not time of day. These wines are produced from grapes that haven't achieved full maturity.

An early harvest was in full swing in mid-August after an intense heatwave which also reduced the crop in Napa and Sonoma. Napa's Calistoga hit 111 F. In the shade in mid-June.

Because of the northerly climate, there has been a search for suitable grape varieties (particularly frost resistant and early harvesting ones), and many crosses have been developed, such as Müller-Thurgau.

These appellations have all suffered in the past, as some growers and co-operatives have followed the path of early harvest, high yields and heavy manipulation, producing wines that were thin, unripe and sulphurous but which were sold on name alone.

See also: Harvest, Region, Style, Broad, Appellation