The Ultimate Celebration of Wine
If you’ve been reading my emails for awhile now (or following along on Instagram), you know I love wine and traveling to experience wine around the world. One of the most unique experiences I had was when I worked the wine harvest in Southern France in 2018. Every year around this time, I think back to that experience and crave being outside all day clipping grapes (and eating delicious French food).
Traveling during harvest season provides a unique opportunity to see the process in action and learn a bit more about what goes into winemaking from the start.
It’s also a time of celebration - there are local festivals throughout the season that feature local wines, foods, music, and dancing so this can be a wonderful time to travel and experience the local culture.
The harvest is a lot of work so visiting wineries during this season can be tricky. Smaller producers may not have the resources to offer tastings and allow visitors during harvest season so working with your travel advisor helps to filter out which wineries will be open during this time. You can take advantage of open days to see wineries and the winemaking process, sample different types of wines, and take part in parades, folk dances, and competitions.
I promise you will never look at wine the same way.
If you want to travel to Europe, late summer and early fall are harvest time.
It’s difficult to predict the exact timing when the grapes will be ripened enough for harvesting, but planning your trip for these time periods will give you the best chance.
The wine harvest in France, known as la vendange, typically takes place from August to October. Many of the vineyards still harvest by hand, rather than using machinery, and it becomes a community event. Harvest begins first in the southern regions such as Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon and ends in the north and eastern regions such as Alsace and Champagne.
The grape harvest season in Spain typically takes place from August to November, and the grape harvest festival, or vendimias, usually lasts until the end of October. These festivals take place in Rioja, Sitges (near Barcelona), and Valladolid (outside of Madrid).
The grape harvest in Italy, known as vendemmia, usually takes place between late August and early October. However, the exact timing can vary based on the weather, vineyard location, and grape varieties. Many vineyards offer hands-on activities for visitors, including: Learning about grape selection and winemaking, Picking grapes, Stomping grapes, and Participating in a free lunch. The harvest is also a time for celebration, with feasts, music, and dancing. Restaurants also offer specialties that highlight the newly harvested foods, such as porcini risotto, pumpkin ravioli, pasta al tartufo, and dishes with wild boar.
Since the seasons are reversed in South America, the best time to travel for wine harvest is February through April.
Argentina’s harvest season typically begins in late February and into March, whereas Chile and Uruguay typically harvest in March and April. Much like its European counterparts, the wine harvest is marked by festivals and local traditions.
In Argentina, you can expect the biggest wine harvest festival in the world, held between February and march. Wineries organize big events and hold tastings, banquets, and festivals. Wineries will even invite tourists to join in the grape-picking and wine-making. Travel to Mendoza for the Fiesta de la Vendimia and celebrate the cultural heritage of wine.
Similarly, the grape harvest in Chile is a major event that takes place in March and April, and is celebrated with festivals, also known as vendimias. The harvest is a time to honor the land and wine, and to experience the culture of Chile's wine regions. You can participate in harvest activities at wineries, small towns in the Maule Region, and harvest festivals.
If traveling during harvest season sounds incredible, it is! Let us help you plan the ultimate trip to your favorite wine region.