What will the feeling be when we finally bring in the last grapes of the harvest ? Over the moon, because it is finally over ? Sudden relief, after all the tension ? Or the simple joy of having toiled and dreamed with others? The end of the harvest is celebrated with the traditional « gerbaude » - the harvest party.

Most of us were just strangers at the start of the picking; but throughout the days we became closer and eventually friends. Every day we had breakfast and lunch together in an increasingly warm and friendly atmosphere. Now it is time to go our separate ways, but only after a final meal where the laughing and shouting, and the singing and dancing, will be present throughout. Because wine is a human adventure; it is born from the earth and it feeds on the work and the joys that are shared by mankind. The harvest party is the traditional, yet continuing symbol of this fraternal communion which gives meaning and perhaps extra soul to our profession.