✅ How to pick fresh grape leaves
I went with my mom and her friend to our vineyard outside of Heraklion, Crete (↗️ wikipedia link) to harvest fresh grape leaves for dolmadakia (the diminutive form of dolmades – stuffed grape leaves), and then we preserved them in jars and in the freezer. Here are all the valuable tips you’ll need if you want to do that too:
1. ⚠️ Make sure the vines are not sprayed with pesticides or other chemicals.
This is probably the most important thing, because using sprayed vines can result in poisoning. Here in Crete, we usually ask the owner of the vineyard if we can pick some leaves form his property, and he can tell us if he has used pesticides or not. If you pick wild grapevine leaves, they’ll probably be pesticide free, but it’s best if you know for sure.
2. Best time to pick:
Late spring, usually April to May, is the best timebut this can depend on the weather. The leaves are growing during this time and they’re tender. Also, pick early in the morning, before the sun gets too hot, when they are crisp, fresh, and full of moisture.
3. Grapevine varieties:
In Greece, we mostly use Sultana – Thompson Seedless (external link), a very popular variety because the leaves are tender, smooth, and the right size. Other common grapevine varieties are Savvatiano (Greek variety) and Concord (common in the U.S – the leaves are soft and widely used for dolmades). Wild grape leaves can also be used, and you can even find them growing near your house! Wine grape varieties may have tougher leaves but if you collect the younger, tender leaves they will also do.
4. Choose young, tender leaves:
Older leaves are too tough and have thick veins. Look for leaves that are light green, soft and about the size of your hand. From each shoot, pick one tender leaf. The leaf should not be at the same height or close to a grape cluster. If the shoot doesn’t have a grape cluster, you can pick more.
👉 Picking more than one leaf will weaken the shoot and it won’t be able to support the growth of the grape cluster (that’s what my dad says).
Use the following vine leaves pictures as a guide to determine which are suitable for picking.
5. No blemishes
Look for no holes, no brown spots or blemishes, no damage. Choose healthy, smooth and delicate leaves, not overly matured.
6. Equipment
You can wear gloves because your hands may stain (especially if you collect a lot). You can use scissors to cut them, but doing it by hand is quicker.