Farmer Inspecting His Wine Grapes In Vineyard

The grape harvest: autumn in Provence

Wine growing in Provence is an ancient and traditional art. As summer eases to a close, a host of festive events announce the start of the grape harvest – and our exciting autumn events schedule. Calling all wine buffs!

Wine fairs trooping the colour

Uniting people around Bacchus

Now a genuine institution, the grape harvest fair in La Cadière-d’Azur brims over with warmth and authenticity. On the programme: a cart procession celebrating the start of the harvest and tasting of the delicious new Bandol vintage. In Avignon, the Estivales du Rhône, with its famous giant wine bar, takes place at the beginning of July, followed by the Ban des Vendanges at the Jardins du Rocher des Doms at the end of August, celebrating the start of the grape harvest in the Rhône valley and promising an inimitable immersion in the world of wine… We love the parades and plethora of activities on offer throughout the day – not to mention the fabulous wine and local produce tasting and after-dark dancing. An absolute must!

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Une publication partagée par Compagnons des Côtes du Rhône (@compagnonsdescotesdurhone) le 5 Août 2019 à 7 :24 PDT

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Une publication partagée par @closdesroses

Immersion in the wine areas

Meet and greet our passionate growers

Meet us in Fréjus, in the heart of the Clos des Roses estate. Accompanied by a passionate and uniquely-knowledgeable team, visitors enjoy an in-depth delve into the workings of the harvest, topped with plenty of tasting. In September, when the grape harvest season is in full swing, take the opportunity to visit the Château des Demoiselles estate in La Motte, on a scooter or quad bike! It’s also the perfect opportunity to taste the estate’s wines or take a gourmet break at Mézé des Demoiselles. Meanwhile, Rhonéa in Vaucluse is a modern yet authentic wine cooperative offering cellar tours and tasting to get your wine expertise up to speed! Last but not least, roam the Pierrevert wine route in the gorgeous Alpes de Haute-Provence wine growing area – the reddening vines are weighed down with their precious cargo when autumn comes around.

Everything you need to know about the grape harvest

One thing’s for sure, it’s a job!

Savour a tasty and energizing breakfast at Château Paradis in Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade before getting down to business with a pair of secateurs in hand, gathering grapes and filling buckets! After a « wine apprentice » lunch at the heart of the estate, it’s time for a cellar and winery tour, then a stroll in the gentle autumn sunshine of Provence. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, immerse yourself in the world of the winegrower and discover the secrets of wine and the grape harvest at the Brotte Wine Museum. The wine growers of Domaine Beauvalcinte enjoy sharing the fundamentals of their ancient techniques with visitors – from fermentation to ageing you’ll learn everything there is to know about winemaking from the grape to the glass. And if you want to unlock the secrets of our finest vintages, try grape stomping – an experience to remember par excellence!

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Une publication partagée par Thierry Petillot (@thierrypetillot.photovideo) le 7 Nov. 2019 à 2 :48 PST