Record Harvest 2026 at GWF: How VYC Suite Manages Over 1,000 Hectares and 1,000 Tons of Grapes Per Day
As reported by the industry portal about-drinks.com , the Winzergemeinschaft Franken eG (GWF) looks back on a historic harvest: lasting just 21 picking days, the 2026 grape harvest was the shortest in the cooperative’s history—while delivering highly promising grape quality.
Between August 31 and September 12, around 75% of the total harvest volume was processed. The absolute peak occurred on September 5, when nearly 1,000 tons of grapes were processed within 24 hours—one of the highest daily throughputs in the history of the GWF pressing facility.
Handling such an intense harvest across 1,200 hectares of vineyards without bottlenecks, while maintaining full control and top wine quality, shows what modern infrastructure can achieve. This outstanding logistical performance was made possible by the seamless interplay between state-of-the-art cellar technology—the newly constructed pressing facility built by Scharfenberger—and an end-to-end digital process chain powered by VYC Suite.
GWF's Fully Digitized Process for the 2026 Vintage
A harvest of this scale requires careful planning well before the first grapes are picked. VYC Suite connects and supports the entire workflow at GWF through a range of specialized modules:
Accurate Master Data with the Digital Parcel Declaration Form
Reliable harvest planning starts with accurate, up-to-date data. At the beginning of each year, the GWF winegrowers are asked to review and update their acreage and variety data using the digital parcel declaration form. This gives the administration a clear picture of the expected yield volumes and plot structures well before the harvest season begins.
Quality Management via Vineyard Scoring
In a hot, fast-paced harvest year like 2026, assessing quality potential in advance is critical. Using the Vineyard Scoring module, every plot is evaluated against defined quality criteria before harvest. This means that, well before harvest scheduling begins, the administration knows the potential of each vineyard parcel and can clearly define the target products (master items).
Daily and Slot-Based Harvest Planning with Capacity Management
Based on scoring results, expected yields per hectare, and defined master items, the Harvest Planning module coordinates the entire harvest process:
Real-time press capacity management: To optimize the use of GWF’s Scharfenberger pressing facility, the module was enhanced to include press occupancy and processing time scheduling.
Daily and slot-based planning: Deliveries are scheduled within precise time windows (slots). This helps prevent bottlenecks at intake and ensures that each delivery is routed directly to the most suitable press based on its master item specifications.
Seamless Communication via the Member Portal
Through the integrated member portal, winegrowers remained connected and informed throughout the hectic 2026 harvest season:
Document management: Centralized administration of member communication, including digital plant protection documentation.
Transparency: Winegrowers can view their scoring results and assigned harvest slots directly on their smartphones or PC.
Conclusion: Future-Proof Digitization for Modern Wineries
A daily throughput of 1,000 tons during GWF’s 2026 vintage demonstrates what is possible when high-performance processing technology and well-designed software work hand in hand. Even extremely condensed harvest windows can be managed smoothly and efficiently - without compromising on quality. VYC Suite reduces administrative effort and idle times while helping producers make full use of the quality potential of every grape.
Looking to prepare your winery or cooperative for the challenges of future vintages? Get in touch with us to discover how VYC Suite can take your harvest and capacity planning to the next level!
(Source: about-drinks.com : GWF: Shortest harvest in history, promising quality / Press release from GWF eG)
