Wondering what happens during the Grape Harvest in France?

You’re about to find out, as I recently spent a day at Pierre Lecat Family Estate in northern Charente, just 30 minutes from where I live.

I was lucky enough to see firsthand what happens during the Grape harvest in France, and the magic behind the process. And what a wonderful experience it was.

If you didnt’ know, France boasts one of the most extensive wine regions in the world, with over 800,000 hectares of vineyards. This was, of course, a big tick for me when I decided to make the move to France. I do love my wine.

And the Charente, although not as well known as some other wine regions, is the home of Cognac, along with one of my other favourite tipples, Pineau des Charentes.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to work in the vines, or even have your own vineyard in France, you’re in the right place.

The Annual Grape Harvest in France

The grape harvest, referred to as “La Vendange,” takes place in early autumn, typically from late August to early October, depending on the region and the grape variety. 

During this time, vineyards come alive with activity as skilled workers and volunteers carefully pick the Grapes by hand or sometimes by machine.

A Day in a French Vineyard in the Charente

My day of grape picking began at 9:30 a.m. when we arrived at Pierre Lecat Distillery to meet our host for the day, Emily. 

It was a beautiful Autumn day, with temperatures set to reach a high of 30 degrees. That’s what you call an Indian Summer and one of the many reasons I love living in the Charente. 

We are so lucky here as we get great weather and, on average, receive 2,400 hours of sunshine every year. And October is a beautiful month with warm temperatures and fall colours that are simply stunning.

Having said that, it was still a little nippy that early in the day, and I’d opted for shorts, so the coffee and croissant station set up on the patio was very welcome.

The Grape Picking Experience

This type of event is popular, especially with the English-speaking community living in France. After all, one of the reasons we all moved to France was to be part of the French culture and immerse ourselves in French life. 

And what better way to do that than by being part of the grape harvest?

I think, in total, there were around 50 of us looking for a grape picking experience in the vines, mostly English, although there were a couple of French too.

One group of women had been before and enjoyed it so much they’d turned it into a yearly outing. They were a lot of fun, and for some reason, none of them could remember, wore fake moustaches as part of their experience.

So this motley assortment of people made their way out to the vines, a short drive away, ready to start the day.

Handpicking the Grapes

In our welcome email, Emily had advised us to bring some secateurs and a pair of sturdy shoes as it can get muddy out in the vines. 

Luckily for us, though, muddiness wasn’t an issue, as it was as dry as a bone due to the lack of rain.

As we stood in a group in front of the vines, watching Emily demonstrate what we needed to do, you couldn’t help but catch your breath.

It really is beautiful out there in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by vines and countryside.

You can see why so many movies are written about how romantic it is to own a vineyard and work in the vines.

In reality, however, romance isn’t the first word that springs to mind. In fact, the first word that comes into my mind would be sticky!

You see, here, at Pierre Lecat, grapes are picked by hand and not a machine. 

That’s why you need your secateurs, to snip the branch so it releases the grapes you’re after, the ones that look good that is.

And there is a rule when picking. “if you’d eat it, put it in if you wouldn’t leave it out.”

Consequently, your hands get covered in sticky grape juice, as do your secateurs.

Now the clever ones, those that had thought it through before coming, had gloves on. Nicky and I, my friend who came with me, didn’t.

But I like to think of it more as I wanted to get closer to nature, that’s why I didn’t bring my gloves.

And did I mention how tiring it is? I have a whole new respect for vineyard owners and those who pick the grapes. To get a good harvest, you’re looking at each individual little bunch of grapes to see whether or not they pass the test.

In many cases, some did and some didn’t, so you pick out the bad ones and put in the good. And that takes time.

All that said, I had a ball. Stood out there in the middle of the vines, I could almost see myself as a vineyard owner, in the Hollywood romantic version, of course, not the real version.

I actually found it rather therapeutic and relished the manual work in a weird sort of way. There was something very satisfying looking at all the grapes we’d harvested, knowing we were doing our bit.

Nicky and I did two bagfuls and were rather proud of our haul. We missed out on getting one of the buckets provided, so thinking on our feet, we used a big Leclerc shopping bag I had in the boot of the car, which worked very nicely.

I had a proud moment as we emptied our bag of grapes into the waiting trailer. I couldn’t actually believe how many grapes we’d all picked in such a short space of time. Two full trailers we did as a group.

Pressing the Grapes

I have to say, I definitely had an “I Love Lucy” moment when I saw the grape press. If you’ve never seen that episode with Lucille Ball stomping the grapes, you really should.

It was fascinating watching as the wooden press squashed the grapes, spitting out the juice at the other end. 

It was hard work, as a few of us found out when we had a go. There is no cheating going on here, as it’s all done by hand.

And the best bit, it was ready to drink straightaway, as Pierre Lecat grapes are organic. Yep, no nasty pesticides or sprays here.

In fact, for over 20 years, there have been no chemical herbicides or insecticides.

We’d all brought empty bottles with us, and it was great fun filling up our bottles with the juice from the grapes we’d just picked. And it tasted amazing, very sweet, but in a good way and so, very, very drinkable. 

I took some home and popped it in the fridge, and it was gone within a couple of hours.

The Grape Harvest Feast

As with all good events in France, there is always food and wine involved. And the grape harvest was no exception.

As you can imagine, after working in the vines for a couple of hours, we were all hungry and ready for a glass of something refreshing and, of course, alcoholic.

Each year, as part of the harvest, Pierre Lecat work with local food producers to provide the food.

This year, Salomé Nas from Le Lac de Sauls restaurant in Luxé was doing the honours.

Their signature Rougaille Saucisse that I had was out of this world and served with lentils and rice.

There was, of course, a cheese course, followed by a rather yummy apple tart.

All this was washed down with a wine of your choice, which, in my case, was a very good Merlot Cabernet, 2021 called Mam’Zelle Rouge.

It was such a lovely way to end the day, sitting outside in the Autumn sun with a view of the countryside, watching the grapes we’d just picked being pressed.

And if you’ve never been to Le Lac de Sauls restaurant, I know several friends who have been and loved it.

And if the food I had at the harvest feast was anything to go by, it’s well worth a visit, especially in the summer, when you can sit outside around the lake.

Noble Rot (pourriture Noble)

The grapes we picked will be used to make a sweet chardonnay, having undergone Noble Rot, a first for Pierre Lecat.

Noble rot, scientifically known as Botrytis cinerea, is a fascinating and beneficial fungus that plays a crucial role in winemaking, particularly in the production of certain sweet wines. 

This natural occurrence is highly dependent on specific weather conditions, making it a unique and somewhat unpredictable phenomenon.

Noble rot occurs when grapes, usually of certain grape varieties such as Sémillon, Riesling, or Chenin Blanc, are infected by the Botrytis cinerea fungus. 

The magic happens when these grapes experience a combination of morning mists and warm, sunny afternoons during the harvest season. 

These conditions create a delicate balance where the fungus thrives.

As the fungus colonises the grape skins, it pierces them, causing the grapes to lose water content.

This process concentrates the sugars and flavours within the grape while retaining high levels of acidity. The result is grapes that are partially raisined, with a golden hue and a unique flavour profile.

When these grapes are harvested, they are exceptionally sweet, and their juice is highly concentrated.

Winemakers can then press and ferment this juice to create incredibly luscious and complex sweet wines,

The Story of Pierre Lecat Cognac

I love my history, so it was fascinating to find out more about the history of this small but passionate family estate.

The history of the Estate goes back three generations to the mid-20th century when Jean Luc Lassoudière returned to the family farm in the village of Saint Fraigne to start a new vineyard.

In 1870, the phylloxera crisis saw many farmers in the Cognac region leave the area as their crops were destroyed, so coming back to start again, was not an easy task.

By 1970, things were looking up, and there was enough quality and quantity for them to start supplying some of the major Cognac houses.

But for me, the fascinating part of the story was the process used by the Lassoudière family.

The passion they have for the vines, the distillation and the ageing process is really rather special.

Hélène Audouin-Lassoudière, the current owner, is involved in every aspect, and it’s this passion and attention to detail which has elevated Pierre Lecat to the rank of grandmaster.

What they create is a work of art, and they are considered to be “the watchmaker’s Cognac”, a nod to the fact that it takes time to create perfection. 

They were also winners of the “Vivre Ensemble” award, showing their commitment to the community and their employees.

The Vineyard at Pierre Lecat

​​Over 70 years, the Pierre Lecat estate has grown to become 40 hectares of vines dedicated to the production of Cognac, Pineaux des Charentes and Vin de Pays Charentais.

Onsite, there is a distillery with two Charentais alambic and cellars for ageing Cognacs and Pineaux.

The terroir is clay-limestone, good for drainage and for retaining water, making it ideal for growing vines.

The grape varieties are predominantly Ugni blanc for the cognacs, colombard and Montil for the Pineaux des Charentes, and Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon for the vins de pays.

Pineau des Charentes

Pineau des Charentes is a French fortified wine originating from the Charente and Charente-Maritime regions. It’s crafted by blending freshly pressed grape juice, primarily from Ugni Blanc, with Cognac eau-de-vie. 

It’s then aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 18 months, allowing the flavours to harmonise. The result is a fabulous aromatic aperitif, characterised by its sweet, fruity notes, and a subtle undercurrent of Cognac’s richness and depth. 

It’s a speciality of the region, often enjoyed as an apéritif or dessert wine.

I love it, and I got to try two of the three Pineau on offer at Pierre Lecat, the Rosé and the aged white Pineau.

As soon as I tasted the Rosé, it was love at first sip, and, of course, I ended up buying a bottle to take home.

A Guide to Picking Grapes in France

Grape picking season and the harvesting of grapes is steeped in tradition and is a major event throughout the wine regions of France.

It marks the end of the season and is a chance to celebrate all the hard work that has taken place during the year. It’s a celebration of tradition, terroir, and togetherness.

When is grape picking season in France?

Grape picking season in France typically spans from late August to early October, varying depending on the region and grape variety.

This period ensures that grapes are harvested at their peak ripeness, crucial for crafting exceptional wines.

Methods of Grape Picking

Handpicking

Traditional and still widely used, hand-picking involves skilled pickers gently selecting ripe grapes. It’s a meticulous process, ensuring only the best fruit is chosen, often used for high-quality wines.

Mechanical Harvesting

In larger vineyards, machines are employed to pick grapes efficiently. These machines can shake vines gently to release the grapes, collecting them in bins.

Selective Harvesting

Some wineries opt for selective harvesting, where grapes are picked in multiple passes to ensure each cluster is perfectly ripe. This method is common for sweet wine production.

Grape Picking Festivals | La Fête des Vendanges

You’ll find grape picking festivals, or La Fête des Vendanges, happening all around France. Some of the best-known ones are below.

Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre (Paris in October)

Held in the heart of Paris, Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre celebrates the few remaining vineyards within the city. It features parades, wine tastings, and a grand ball. What sets it apart is the juxtaposition of urban life and winemaking tradition.

Fête des Vendanges de Sancerre (Loire Valley)

Sancerre is known for its Sauvignon Blanc, and this festival celebrates it in style. Visitors can participate in grape picking, and wine tasting, and enjoy local cuisine surrounded by picturesque vineyards.

Fête des Vendanges de Neuchâtel (Burgundy in September)

Held in the famous Burgundy wine region, Fête des Vendanges de Neuchâtel offers grape picking experiences in renowned vineyards. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in Burgundy’s rich wine culture.

Le Fête de la Veraison (Provence in August)

Unlike most of the other harvest festivals, this one is held earlier in August.

It takes place in the picturesque town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and immerses visitors in the heart of the famed Rhône Valley vineyards.

With its roots deeply intertwined with winemaking traditions, the event offers a delightful blend of wine tastings, grape stomping, and cultural activities, all set against the backdrop of historic châteaux and vineyard landscapes.

Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration (Beaujolais)

Taking place in November, the Beaujolais Nouveau celebration marks the release of the season’s first wine.

It’s a nationwide event but particularly celebrated in the Beaujolais region. The festival features parties, fireworks, and, of course, the tasting of the young and fruity Beaujolais Nouveau wine.

While not directly related to grape picking, it’s a significant event in the French wine calendar, highlighting the freshness of the new vintage.

Grape picking jobs in France and harvesting experiences

A fantastic way for wine enthusiasts to actively participate in the grape harvest season is to do exactly what I did and take part in an experience day. 

They often include educational components, wine tastings, and gourmet meals, and I can highly recommend taking part in the Annual Harvest Dsy at Pierre Lecat to see what it’s all about.

Some vineyards offer overnight stays during the harvest season, allowing guests to completely immerse themselves in the winemaking process.

And sometimes you’ll find they also offer volunteer programs where you assist with grape picking and other tasks in exchange for a deeper appreciation of winemaking, hands-on experience and knowledge.

FAQS: Grape Picking in France

Final Thoughts: The Grape Harvest in France

Taking part in a grape harvest is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. It really gives you an appreciation for the wine you enjoy drinking as you start to understand the process and how it all comes together.

It also showed me that although Hollywood movies depict it as romantic, the reality is a lot of hard work for the people running the distilleries and estates.

There is a passion that runs in their blood that’s infectious and comes through in everything they do.

I loved my behind-the-scenes look at life in the vines, and highly recommend the experience. To arrange a tasting or to book a visit at Pierre Lecat visit their website.

The post The Grape Harvest in France, 2023 | Fête des Vendanges appeared first on Life in Rural France.