The grape harvest and the meaning of celebration

It is the most important festival of the year, in l'Hermitage country, in the heart of the vineyards of the Northern Cotes du Rhône which produce wines of very great quality, famous all over the world (Americans and the Parker guide are crazy about it...).  Many communes, around Tain l' Hermitage, take an active part in the festivities. It is the case of the two cantons of Tain and Tournon and also of Pont de l'Isère, Mercurol and Erome.

All the attributes of the popular festival are reunited, from the aperitif concert to the ‘petanque' competitions, via the tourist-cycling race, the wine contest, the procession of floral floats (evening festival on Saturdays and procession on Sundays), with its floats and in apotheosis, the election of the Queen of the Grape harvest and her attendants.

A moment greatly expected and appreciated by all, especially since Genevieve de Fontenay gave this kind of event new life with her Miss France contest. Nothing is more trendy!

All the vineyards and villages organize festivals to celebrate the end of the grape harvest, everywhere the gathering of the grape is done by hand. Such as in the Beaujolais, where it is essential to pick the whole bunches. It is the grape for the Gamay wine, with red skin and white flesh, which gives the ruby-red wine, with the so characteristic flavours of the Beaujolais wine.

Therefore, more than 35000 wine-harvesters are busy in the fields and all the vineyards resound with merry songs and music; especially in the evening, in the village bars and in the properties welcoming visitors. A great moment of jubilation not to miss! It only lasts about fifteen days!