Les Vendanges

I’ve got to admit, there is something a bit mythical about the vendanges.  Perhaps because it is something that I thought I’d never do since I grew up in a region void of vineyards, but the harvesting of grapes, or les vendanges, is quite fun, at least the way we do it.  We help our neighbors who have a small vineyard and with a group of about ten people, the work is done in a day.  If I were a seasonal worker who did this for two months straight, I know I’d feel different about it, but a day is a good dose of what makes it fun without getting a back ache.

Before my first vendanges, I thought the work would be complicated, but it only entails cutting the grapes off the vine and making sure a finger isn’t taken along with it.  Not only would that hurt a lot, but as Monsieur Gousse says, “It will spoil the wine.”  The only other requirement is a good humor.  There is quite a bit of teasing going on along with an occasional smashing of grapes, so perhaps a white t-shirt is best avoided too.

            A long lunch is standard, followed by bringing the collected grapes to the cooperative, where they are weighed and tested for sugar (alcohol) contents.  Just the smell of the place is intoxicating.  It’s not a wine smell, but not fresh fruit smell either.  There must be something in the air because all the people are extremely jovial. 

            It’ll be months before the grapes we collected will be ready to drink, but the wine I had at the end of the day did give me pause to the effort that goes into making it.  Word of caution though, just watch your back if Monsieur Gousse has a handful grapes and a sly smile.  He might have something planned for you.

Our neighbor's truck used for les vendanges, era 1950.