#technology #harvesting #grape#It’s harvest time, for grapes that is. The grape harvest (vendange) in France can start as early as August and finish as late as the end of October depending on how ripe the grapes are and which region they’re in. During just under three months, a frenzy of activity takes place in the 750,000 hectares of vineyards in France. And before we know it, this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau will be uncorked.
In this post we delve into the history and ceremony of grape harvesting in France. Plus list some of the best wine harvest festivals taking place throughout the wine-growing regions in autumn.
A brief history of wine in France
With almost 3,000 different types of wine grown in vineyards throughout the country, France is one of the leading nations for fine wines, champagnes and liqueurs. And the French have certainly had time to learn a thing or two about wine production since the Romans were the first to grow vines for wine in France, probably as early as the 6th century BC.
After the decline of the Roman empire and the rise of Catholicism, wine in France grew in importance. Medieval religious orders began to hold a strong influence over the production of wine and perfected techniques to create the perfect taste. In the Middle Ages, the region of Bordeaux with its handy seaports became the wine capital of the world and was the purveyor of wines to most of Europe’s monarchs.
Other wine-producing regions then joined Bordeaux in the country’s huge output. Despite a rollercoaster of climatic, economic and natural ups and downs over the years, France remains the global leader of wine exports. Even within the very varied world of wine with huge competition from Spain and Italy as well as from the new world wine producing destinations of Australia, New Zealand and California, France is considered the leader of the pack and a benchmark for the world wine industry.