In order to optimize wine quality it is important to first characterize grape phenolic maturity and to determine the extractability of phenolic compounds during winemaking. The choice of harvest date is therefore very important but nevertheless still empirical. Previous works showed the interest of grape texture measurement as factor of grape maturity characterization. This work proposes to focus on berry skins and seed texture properties of three grapevine varieties: Cabernet sauvignon, Pinot noir and Nebbiolo from different growing areas and during two vintages, using a Universal Testing Machine TaxT2i Texture Analyzer. For the measurement of berry skin hardness, a needle probe was used, whereas for seed hardness a flat P/35 cylinder probe was used until a 50% deformation was reached. Tests were performed at 1mm.s -1 . Every test gave a force-deformation curve indicating the applied force at the skin and seed rupture point and the involved rupture energy. The first part of the study concerned the validation of the method used for grape skin and seed hardness measurements. The second part was dedicated to the importance of grape skin and seed hardness for the varietal differentiation The collected data showed that since there is a significant difference between varieties, berry skin and seed hardness represents a meaningful parameter for varietal characterization and differentiation. In both years 2004 and 2005, Nebbiolo was the variety with the toughest seeds (55,8N and 58,9N), but with the weakest berry skins (0,46N and 0,35N), in comparison to Pinot noir, which had the weakest seeds (35,9N and 41,3N) but the toughest berry skins (0,57N and 0,50N). Cabernet sauvignon showed a medium hardness for berry skins (0,51N and 0,46N) and seeds (44,5N and 43,4N).