From late August through early November, wine grapes are being picked, sorted, fermented and made into wine, all over the Northern Hemisphere. Is this a good time to visit your favorite winery? Well, that depends…
There are some places and people you definitely should not visit during this busy period – very small properties, especially if they’re famous, will likely close their doors for several weeks as all hands are on deck getting the job done. More than anywhere else, this applies to the Cote d’Or in Burgundy, where many tiny producers are so famous they never have wine to sell, and even in quieter times are not keen on taking time out to entertain visitors.
On the other hand, those with a larger structure, and full-time hospitality staff, often stay open during harvest and vinification, and some make a feature of receiving guests at this time, with special events, harvest festivals and even hands-on packages specifically geared to letting visitors get their hands dirty.
The more a region is oriented towards wine tourism, the more likely you will be welcomed at this time of year, so places like Napa, Mendoza in Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand, are good places to strike a trail. Also, most less “prestigious” regions are very well set-up for harvest visitors, as they rely heavily on “cellar door” sales, and getting folks in to enjoy a fun time is a great way to get names on the all-important mailing list and wine club.
A great example is Trefethen Family Vineyards “Harvest Boot Camp” in late September, which includes hands-on work in the field, in depth education, futures tasting and lunch with the winemaker – but it’s so well known that you’ll likely already be on a wait list if you want to go this year!
The French have a tradition of “Porte Ouverte” (open door) days, when they make an effort to get as many visitors as possible into their cellars. However, these don’t usually occur during the height of harvest, and typically only provide a tasting and maybe a short visit.
There are some other rather special events in French regions however, often organized by the local “confrerie”, the winemakers’ brotherhood. One of my favorites is the Fete des Vendanges of the Jurade of St. Emilion, with processions through the village, a gala lunch for about 600, music, dancing and fireworks. It coincides with the national “Patrimoine” (heritage) day so the weekend is filled with historical performances, art and pageantry.
Other regions have expanded on the open door idea with much more elaborate – and interesting – events. For example, the Paso Robles Harvest Wine Weekend, with winemaker dinners, ceremonial grape stomps, barrel tastings, artisanal food pairings, and live music. Wineries create programs to showcase their own style, and the Wine Country Alliance promotes all the events through their website.
So whether you’re into picking a few grapes or just want to kick back and enjoy the festive atmosphere with a glass or three, now’s the time to start checking out fun things to do during the fall season in wine country near or far!