What It’s like to visit Bordeaux
during the grape harvest
If you visit Bordeaux during the grape harvest, you arrive at the busiest moment of the wine year. The French call it the vendanges. The estates run on a different clock. Teams work fast. Every day depends on the grapes. This guide shows what you can see, and how we plan a harvest visit for you.
What are the vendanges, and when do they happen?
The vendanges is the grape harvest. The dates change every year with the weather. Each grape variety ripens at its own pace, so the harvest lasts several weeks.
Look at 2026. Bordeaux began picking on August 6, with grapes for crémant. That is about 15 days earlier than the year before, according to Bernard Farges of the CIVB. At Château Troplong- Mondot in Saint-Émilion, the red harvest began on August 19, the earliest on record, according to Vinetur.
Tradition still marks the season. Each September, the Jurade de Saint-Émilion proclaims the start of the harvest at the Tour du Roy. In 2026, the Ban des Vendanges was listed for September 20.
What you can see at the estates
A harvest visit looks different from a visit the rest of the year. On some of our tours, guests watch the grapes arrive at the estate. They also see the sorting.
Sorting is the step where the team checks the grapes before they go to the vat. It shows how much care goes into a great wine. You see the work behind the glass.
The whole region is busy. One cooperative in Bordeaux, for example, calls on 400 pickers for three weeks to bring in its crémant grapes.
How to prepare for a harvest visit
- Stay flexible. The harvest follows the weather, not the calendar. Your day can change with the grapes.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Estates are working sites. Floors can be wet.
- Tell us what you want to see. We shape your day around it.
- Ask us early. We plan each itinerary by hand.
How we plan your harvest day
Every Bordeaux With Élodie tour is entirely private. Your guide is also your driver. We choose the estates that fit your wishes, and we build the day around them. For example, our Saint-Émilion and Pomerol tour and our Médoc tour can take place during the harvest.
We also book your lunch if you wish. Tell us what you prefer, and we handle the rest.
Ready to visit Bordeaux during the grape harvest?
A visit to Bordeaux during the grape harvest shows you the wine at its source. Tell us your dates, and we will plan a day that fits them.