(Sun Herald) - While it is enjoyable to visit wine country throughout the year, September and October are two of the most exciting months because harvest is under way, the growing season has ended and now it is time to begin the winemaking process. Good wine begins in the vineyard with all of the hard work and tough decisions vineyard managers make throughout the growing season, including knowing exactly when to pick the grapes. In determining the perfect time to pick, the winemaker will look at the color of the grapes, taste them for ripeness and track the increasing Brix level of the grapes -- all the while keeping an eye on the weather forecast since anticipated rainfall and/or spikes in temperature can force picking to begin early.