10 Small Items That Will Change Your Harvest
Don't overlook these tools this vintage
When you think about setting up a winery or preparing for harvest, you probably picture the big equipment first: tanks, presses, pumps.
But here's the truth: in my years of helping launch wineries and cideries, it's not always the big-ticket items that make or break your workflow.
It's the small, often overlooked tools that save hours of frustration, prevent mistakes, and give you confidence when things get hectic.
I still remember my first harvests. I wasted entire days running back and forth to the store, placing last-minute orders, or improvising solutions that could have been avoided with a little foresight. If only someone had handed me a simple list like this...
So today, I'm sharing it with you.
10 Small Tools Every Winemaker Should Have on Hand
1. INAO tasting glasses
Your nose and palate are your most important winemaking tool. These glasses are designed to help you train your nose and detect subtle fermentation changes early. Use them every day. For each cuvée.
2. Precise hydrometer (0.994–1.010)
Tiny density differences at the end of fermentation matter, whether you're confirming dryness or timing your pét-nat.
3. Stainless steel measuring stick
Quick, sanitary, and reliable for measuring tank volumes.
4. Precise balance or scale
Because bench trials are only as good as your measurements. Precision is key.
5. Food-grade buckets
The harvest workhorse: transferring juice, mixing additions, cleaning. You'll use them more than you expect. Keep them clean and sanitized at all times. Avoid scratching the plastic ones.
6. Stainless steel whisk
The simplest tool for dissolving yeasts, nutrients, and other additives properly.
7. Small cleaning brushes
Perfect for clamps, gaskets, and valves; spots that often harbor contamination if overlooked. Clean and sanitize them before and after every use.
8. Fresh cloths or chamois (low-residue)
For efficient cleaning without leaving fibers behind.
9. Headlamp
Nights, dark cellars, tanks that need scrubbing... a headlamp frees your hands when you need them most.
10. Waterproof tape and marker
Because nothing slows harvest like a mystery batch with no label.
11. Food-grade hose with nozzle (bonus!)
Good water pressure makes cleaning faster and more effective.
Why These "Small" Things Matter
Most of these items don't cost much. They're not glamorous. But they set the tone for an efficient, confident harvest.
Being prepared isn't about perfection. It's about stacking the odds in your favor so you can make calm, clear decisions when things get busy.
Your Turn
❉ What would you add to this list?
❉ Which small tools have saved you the most time and stress during harvest?
Let me know by sending me a DM: @alexandravinumartisan or an email: [email protected]
Coming Soon…
If you want to go deeper into preparing your cellar and your mindset for harvest, I have something exciting coming up. It's designed to help you feel ready, efficient, and confident with the community you wish you had during harvest, so you don't feel alone.
Stay tuned for more details in my next update.
Ready to take your project from dream to production?
If you're planning your first vintage, preparing to scale, or just want clarity on your next steps, I'd love to help.
I've created the Winery Startup Blueprint: Ten focused questions designed to help you create an aligned, profitable, and scalable microproduction. It's a practical tool to guide your first confident steps from dream to production.
[Download the Blueprint here.]
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A no-commitment 15-minute session designed to:
Review your current production reality or project direction
Identify key challenges
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