Languedoc Wine Festivals in October not to be Missed

In the French Languedoc region (south of France), it is now the grape harvest season. Tractors usually drive along vineyard paths, but it is not that rare to see people picking the grapes. It is an old tradition, which still endures today in regions where the machines cannot drive through. Every morning during a few weeks, gatherers pace the vineyard up and down equipped with clippers and buckets. Some are in charge of cutting, others empty the buckets and the tractor driver carries the grapes to the farming cooperative. The beginning of the harvest season depends of course on the wine grape variety but also on the weather conditions. The Muscat for example, is generally gathered before the others, that is to say around mid-August. The grapes destined to produce red wine, like the Syrah are generally harvested from August 20th, as well as the grapes for the Muscat de Frontignan. Then, at the end of August, we usually pick the grapes for the white wine Chardonnay and in September those for the red wine Merlot. The Viognier grapes are harvested around mid-October. If you are around in the Languedoc region, on October 13 and 14 there is a traditional event. The "Fete des Vendanges", in the lovely village of Ouveillan, in the Aude (11) is a week end of festivities displaying activities ranging from the flea market to car boot sale, parade, house clearout sales, etc. The event recreates past tradition and skills that still live on. The original fest was to honour and thank God for the blessed harvest. Every year since, people gather and celebrate the end of the harvest season. A great dinner is offered to labourers, who originally sang in sign of triumph. In the towns of Minervois, Limoux and Fitou, still in the Aude, we also grow and harvest wine grapes to produce the AOC wines of the same names. The Minervois is a red wine, produced from Carignan (40% of the blend), Grenache, Lladoner Pelut, Mourvedre and Syrah grapes. Limoux wine is produced under four AOC designations, which are: Blanquette de Limoux, Blanquette méthode ancestrale, Crémant de Limoux and Limoux. The first three are sparkling wines and they dominate the production around Limoux. There are lots of small producers in the Languedoc region. You can visit their vineyard and taste their wines. It is definitely convivial and has a Mediterranean atmosphere. The Perpignan wine festival takes place on October 16th, 17th and 18th. There again, you can taste local wines and celebrate with workers and visitors.