The harvest provides a connection between people and the land, through showing appreciation for the nature's cycle and the hard work put into producing the year's wine.
After the harvest, there are also many regions that hold fêtes des vendanges (harvest festivals) that will celebrate wine, food, and community! Some examples are La Fête du Vin (Bordeaux Wine Festival) and Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre, Paris (Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival).
This tradition marks the transition from summer to autumn. There are several steps that must be taken during the harvest. First, the grapes must be picked through la récolte (manual picking) in order to protect them from damage. Sometimes people in the community will volunteer and help pick them!
Next there is le triage et le pressurage (sorting and crushing), in which the grapes are sorted to remove their leaves and any unripe grapes before being pressed into juice. After they are pressed or crushed, the juice will begin to ferment, which is when the grape juice turns into wine! Lastly, there will be the les repas des vendanges (feasting and celebration) in which the vineyard workers will share a communal meal with wine, bread, and cheese at the end of their work day.
The harvest is entirely based on the environment as it depends on the weather, soil, and ripening of the grapes. Every vineyard is different and can create a whole new flavor of wine! People also must wait for the perfect time to pick the grapes, which is usually when there is a good balance between the sun and the rain.
