Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Alsace and Provence, grape harvest

Search

Alsace and Provence, grape harvest

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 25th, 2024, 07:37 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Alsace and Provence, grape harvest

We are planning a trip to the Alsace Eastern France and Provence tour. What are the best dates for a tour during the harvest time?
ricarm51 is offline  
Old Apr 25th, 2024, 10:32 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 25,716
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Given that the wines of Provence and the wines of Alsace are very different you will find the harvest times are at least a couple of weeks apart. Without doing research I'm going to guess the lenght of the Alsace harvest is actually slightly longer as they harvest from the simple Pinot Blanc all the way through to late harvest so basically September through to November. Provence is going to be earlier.

Checking google, these dates are more sensible for Alsace 23, from the start of Sept to mid October (though I know specialists will be harvesting up to 25 November as I can name the companies. There is mechanisation but also manual work especially on the hills and in small parcels. Alsace does have a formal decleration of when the harvest may start, but of course some people will just start anyway.

Google shows Provence starting in mid August and much of the harvest has to be done at night and is mechanised mainly as the grapes will spoil if harvested during the summer heat. There will be some day harvesting of course for those who cannot afford the night work or where mechanisation is impossible.

What exactly interests you in this procedure? If you are looking for work, start south and travel north, I know Alsace is always short of pickers. What you will find is that wine sales and cellar tours become shorter and staff are more rushed during harvest. I've toured Alsace during the harvest and visited my favorite cellars having made special arrangements and while we were "welcome" we were not asked to linger.

Last edited by bilboburgler; Apr 25th, 2024 at 10:36 PM.
bilboburgler is offline  
Old Apr 25th, 2024, 11:54 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,055
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you are looking for work you must be an EU/EEA citizen.
Apart from roads full of little tractors loaded with grapes as I recall there was little to see of the harvest along the Mosel.
hetismij2 is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2024, 10:23 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bilboburgler
Given that the wines of Provence and the wines of Alsace are very different you will find the harvest times are at least a couple of weeks apart. Without doing research I'm going to guess the lenght of the Alsace harvest is actually slightly longer as they harvest from the simple Pinot Blanc all the way through to late harvest so basically September through to November. Provence is going to be earlier.

Checking google, these dates are more sensible for Alsace 23, from the start of Sept to mid October (though I know specialists will be harvesting up to 25 November as I can name the companies. There is mechanisation but also manual work especially on the hills and in small parcels. Alsace does have a formal decleration of when the harvest may start, but of course some people will just start anyway.

Google shows Provence starting in mid August and much of the harvest has to be done at night and is mechanised mainly as the grapes will spoil if harvested during the summer heat. There will be some day harvesting of course for those who cannot afford the night work or where mechanisation is impossible.

What exactly interests you in this procedure? If you are looking for work, start south and travel north, I know Alsace is always short of pickers. What you will find is that wine sales and cellar tours become shorter and staff are more rushed during harvest. I've toured Alsace during the harvest and visited my favorite cellars having made special arrangements and while we were "welcome" we were not asked to linger.
Thank you for your advise, I am interested mostly on the environmental atmosphere of the harvest process in France. Technology has brought many changes to the industry, no longer the ideal lure of the country side.
ricarm51 is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2024, 11:56 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 23,793
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
The grape harvest is earlier every year at the moment so whenever you find out when last year's harvest took place, count a week or two earlier.
kerouac is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
billruth
Europe
16
Jul 20th, 2005 03:57 AM
Brahmama
United States
4
Jun 26th, 2005 06:34 AM
StCirq
Europe
4
Sep 18th, 2004 12:50 PM
Amy
Europe
11
Aug 7th, 2002 07:54 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -