Fête des Vendanges
Listed under Harvests & Food Festivals in Rhone-Alps, France.
Although Cotes du Rhône is a popular cheap tipple, the area also produces some of France’s finest vintages and it all begins, of course, with the harvest of the grapes. To celebrate the hard work of the grape-pickers of the village Tain-l’Hermitage coming to an end, and the beginning of the creation of grand crus, you can get hands on, helping to prise the remaining grapes from their stalks. However feel free to sit back and enjoy the festivities of music, dancing and a moonlit flotilla parade through the town, which all kick off with an aperitif at 11am. There are also leisurely games of petanque (bowls), a more heated wine tasting competition and all the high point of the celebrations is the crowning of the Queen of the grape harvest. All this is accompanied by a soundtrack of slurping, chewing and the laughter of people who have been drinking wine all day.
Written by 
Alessia Horwich.
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