A Visit to a Harvest Festival

The wine harvest in Provence is in full-swing and this past weekend we were lucky enough to witness a ceremonial “first-press” in the village of Le Beausett.

The village’s annual  Fête de Terroir, which showcases local products from the region, took place on Sunday and included villagers in period costume, folk dancing, and samples of freshly-pressed grape juice.

Also featured were local wines, charcuterie (ham & salami), and regional desserts ranging from pâtes de fruits to calissons. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… these villagers really know how to party.

The grape harvest will continue through October with many opportunities to either take part in the process, or celebrate “the take”. For the time being, I think we’ll be doing more of the later, but if you’re in Provence, make sure to check out the website Routes des Vins de Provence (in French & English).

Thirty-three wine routes have been “mapped” to guide tourists through the vineyards of Provence. The routes include 350 wineries around the region and the site regularly advertises local festivals and tasting events.

Another great site which takes us to the “other side” of Provence (from where we live) is Vins des AOC Ventoux (in French & English), featuring Rhone Valley wines which are produced around Mount Ventoux.

Whether you’re enjoying Provençal wines in the region or simply at home… bonne dégustation!

7 responses to “A Visit to a Harvest Festival”

  1. Harvest time is always a great time to go visit the vineyards and wineries in Provence. So much going on. I assume most of it will be over by the time we get to Sablet on October 1. Oh well, we will have to enjoy the harvest going on in our area here in Northern California. They usually harvest the white grapes at night so its cooler and we could hear the tractors going all night in a nearby field.

    1. I agree Michel, there are a lot of tasting events to take advantage of at this time of year. Now that we’ve been here a few years, I appreciate it more and have a better idea of where to look for such things! Perhaps you will still be able to catch a few events in October, either way, it’s a great season to be in Provence.

  2. What a lovely time of the year! Enjoy it while it lasts!

    1. Thanks Jen… It’s a really nice time of year in the South 🙂

  3. Dear Tuula, you can also share with your friends this link http://surlaroutedesvins.jimdo.com/
    La Route Des Vins. Let Christophe drives you ….. Getting to know the winemakers and their knowledge. In a car with driver. On the road of Provence wines, enjoy a full of flavor and friendliness escapade. Enjoy the comfort of a driver who picks you up for a tour in the heart of the vineyards. Enjoy a tour of wineries with a single goal: delight the senses! One of my authentic provencal friend… You can contact him on behalf of Claire Thouvenin from Provence Hand Made

    1. Thanks for the tip Claire and I’m sure others will appreciate hearing about the guided tour, merci.

  4. LOVE the picture of the boy with the grapes – how fantastic. 🙂 I love these amazing festivals, Tuula, and how you capture them so beautifully. 🙂

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