The harvest in BurgundyTo find out all about the Burgundy harvest, click here!

The harvest in Burgundy

To find out all about the Burgundy harvest, click here!

Ah, harvest time… Vines laden with bunches of purple or gold, daily harvests, the sound of tractor engines in the distance, the laughter of grape-pickers and the expert gaze of winegrowers… Every September, the grape harvest opens the ball for Burgundy’s wine production. At various estates on the Côte de Beaune, you can enjoy this unique experience in the heart of the vineyard. But before you pick up your pruning shears or carry your baskets, why don’t we tell you a little more?

Every year, the grape harvest in Burgundy, and more specifically in Beaune and the Beaune region, attracts wine lovers and professionals from all over the world. This crucial period, when century-old Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines bear their fruit, is the culmination of the meticulous work carried out by winegrowers throughout the year. Synonymous with tradition and excellence, the region offers exceptional wines, symbols of Burgundian savoir-faire. Discover how the harvest, punctuated by the climate and unique terroirs, plays a fundamental role in the production of the grands crus of this world-renowned wine region. Some winegrowers offer immersions in their estates during this vital and always convivial work.

Take part in the harvest

Harvest dates in Burgundy: who decides?

Although the harvest in Burgundy generally begins in September, it’s the soil, the vintage and the grape variety that will determine when a domaine’s harvest begins. For a winegrower, this choice is crucial for his operation. Several techniques are available to determine this date. The oldest is to taste the berry… The winemaker takes the bunch in his mouth and crunches it so that the juice can escape. In this way, he can gauge the sugar content, and therefore the alcohol content! A traditional technique still practiced today.

In Burgundy, we harvest by hand

In Burgundy, although some wineries use machines to harvest their grapes, the majority of harvests remain manual. Depending on the size of the estate, the winegrower assembles a team of pickers and trains them from the outset to sort and select the bunches. Generally speaking, harvesting lasts 10 to 15 days and requires around twenty pickers. During the harvest, the pickers cut the bunches of grapes and meticulously place them in baskets collected by the porters. No worries for novices! In the vineyards, the more experienced pickers generally help the slower ones and train the younger ones. This often festive and uniquely convivial atmosphere should be experienced at least once in your life.

A typical grape-picker's day

A typical grape-picker’s day starts at around 7:30 am. After two hours’ work, the estate provides coffee, red and white wine, and a snack for the whole team in the vineyard. At 12:30, it’s time for the lunch break, which usually lasts an hour. It’s now 5 p.m.! The pickers put down their baskets and secateurs and head for home… A well-deserved rest and a chance to regain their strength before the new day’s work ahead. In some wineries, the grape-pickers are also called upon to work in the winery. Generally, this involves the sorting table, but sometimes two or three people are recruited to do other winemaking-related work. After the effort, the comfort! With the Paulée, the end of the harvest rhymes with festivities: for a meal, all the pickers, winemakers and friends get together, eat together and taste the estate’s wines. It’s a chance to say thank you, reminisce, toast and look forward to next year!

Harvest & tasting experience

Take part in the grape harvest at a Burgundy winery

You too can take part in the grape harvest and experience for a few hours the typical day of a grape picker. Discover the harvest for a morning or a day at prestigious estates and taste the wines. My tourist harvest in Burgundy

Harvest experiences

Harvesting in Burgundy: a seasonal job

If you are looking for a job as a grape-picker in Burgundy, we invite you to read this booklet from CRIJ Bourgogne, which provides lots of useful advice and links about the vine and wine professions. https://www.jeunes-bfc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Livret-metiers-vigne-vin-BFC.pdf

Find a job as a grape picker

Meet the winemakers

On the Route des Grands Crus

Eating in the vineyards
Staying with winegrowers