Fête des Vendages ( Harvest Festival) at Ponchapt

Ponchapt village

During the past two weeks the countryside has been abuzz as it’s been that time of year again – vendage. Some vineyards use the big machines to pick while others still prefer to pick by hand. There was often a cluster of cars parked by the roadside and a small band of men and women bent double over the vines, secateurs in hand, filling containers with enormous bunches of ripe grapes. It’s dirty sticky work and I feel for their backs.  It also meant that the roads were congested with a constant stream of those little tractors especially designed to fit between the rows of vines  trundling back and forth to the chais pulling their loaded trailers.

Ripe and ready

It's hard work

These machines are enormous - quite intimidating when you see one on the road in front of you

Now that part is over and the pressing done, so the winemaker takes over.  Mounds of grape residue is left by the roadside for collection and the aroma is amazing.

So many grapes give up their lives for our enjoyment !

Friday evening we took our australian visitors, Gary and Sally,  to the Fête de Vendages ( Harvest celebration) at our next village, Ponchapt. You may  remember our post about the sunday lunch we enjoyed here with the vigneron’s family in June.

Even some local artwork was on display

Waiting for the food didn't hinder the wine appreciation

This is a tiny village with a population of about a hundred people arranged around the small church. Tables were set up inside the village hall and in marquees. Luckily we had dressed appropriately as it was cold once the sun disappeared. A range of food was on offer from small stalls including steak, duck, ham, eel, andouillette  (a particularly disgusting smelling sausage) and the usual potato accompaniment ( either frites or roasted in duck fat). Vegetables being considered superfluous here . Then freshly made waffles and coffee to finish.

Our friends Roger and Brian - just helping with the cleaning up

There was, of course, plenty of wine to help the night along  and,at one point, even a lovely local gentleman playing requests on his accordion.

It was a great night to celebrate that the harvest had been collected successfully and an excuse to get together with friends and neighbours.

Bonne semaine à tous nos amis

bisous de Lily