The Wine Institute

Image Library - Vineyards

Vineyard Practices

In some vineyards workers still tie vines to supporting posts much like they did 30 years ago (around the time this image was taken) and much like they did 300 years before that.

Harvesting

The tradition of harvesting by hand has endured to this day because it allows workers to select clusters of winegrapes by ripeness and eliminate fruit that is of lesser quality. Shown above are harvesters emptying a small wooden container of fruit into a larger gondola for transport back to the winery. The photo, dating from the late 1960's to the early 1970's, illustrates how little manual methods have changed over the years. Image Library - Winery Exteriors

Cooperage

As important as the grapes themselves, the barrels used for aging impart flavors to wine. Barrel-making and cooperage are arts unto themselves.

Barrels date from the earliest times. Today's stout barrels show little actual change in design and construction from those used by the Romans. Barrel-making is still an ancient craft. Machines may help, but the skill, experience and judgment of the cooper are still essential. Oak and redwood are the principal woods used.

Winery Exteriors

The Winery Exteriors section is made up of about 80 images with a handful of images taken between the 1930's and 50's and the bulk taken in the 1960's.

Historical Images

Though all the materials in the archives may be considered "historical" this section contains images from the 1800's and early 1900's before Prohibition.