First Vineyard in Willamette Valley to use State-of-the-Art
Harvesting Machine at Evergreen Vineyards

October 2, 2006

McMinnville, OR – Evergreen Vineyards is the first vineyard in the Willamette Valley to use a revolutionary, state-of-the-art grape harvester. Last week’s results of harvesting the Pinot noir grapes are impressive. On day one the Braud/New Holland Harvester was able to cleanly pick 3.5 tons in only twenty minutes. With hand harvesting, it would have taken one person 34 hours to pick the same tonnage – 102% greater efficiency picking with the harvester.

The Harvester is not only fast but also extremely clean. "It works tremendously," says Evergreen’s winemaker Laurent Montelieu. "[The mechanical process] is as clean as coming out of my own destemmer at the winery".

Not only is it fast and clean but "…it allows us to leave the grapes on the vine a little longer," says Mike Wilhoit, Evergreen’s Vineyard Manager. "We do not have to worry as much about starting the harvest earlier to avoid the cooler, wet weather."

A special opportunity for viewing the Braud/New Holland Harvester at work in the Vineyard will be on Friday October 6th between 8 am and 12 pm. Please call for details.

Photos available on request.

Media Contact:
Mike Wilhoit
Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises, Inc.
Tel: 503.472.9361
Toll Free: 800.472.9361
mike.wilhoit@evergreenag.com