After the harvest, it's time to celebrate! A world tour of wine harvest traditions

France: One Country, a Thousand Ways to Celebrate the End of Harvest

In France, you don't simply say "end-of-harvest meal". No. They invented actual words for it. Real ones, rooted in local dialects, with centuries of history behind them. And honestly, the names alone are worth the trip.

Burgundy: la Paulée

The undisputed queen of French wine celebrations. La Paulée is said to take its name from the last "shovelful" of grapes tipped into the press — the symbolic gesture that closes the harvest. In Burgundy, nothing is done by halves: every winemaker brings their finest bottles to the table, and the rule is simple — everything gets shared.

La Paulée de Meursault, formalised in the 1920s, has since become an international event. Today it draws collectors and enthusiasts from around the world, all dreaming of uncorking a Montrachet in the company of its producer. The atmosphere speaks for itself.

At U'wine: our Burgundy allocations let you stage your own Paulée at home — no invitation required.

Bordeaux: la Gerbaude

In the châteaux of the Gironde, it's the Gerbaude that marks the end of the work. The name is quintessentially Gascon — a "gerbe" (sheaf) symbolising the last armful of harvested grapes. The spirit is identical: harvest workers, estate teams and families gather around a generous banquet. Duck confit, terrines and château wines. This is Bordeaux, so no one holds back.

The Jurade de Saint-Émilion adds a layer of theatre to all of this: every third Sunday of September, members of this medieval brotherhood, dressed in red and white robes, climb to the top of the Tour du Roy to solemnly proclaim the Ban des Vendanges — the official starting gun for the harvest. A breathtaking spectacle (and a thirst-inducing one).

Champagne: le Cochelet

In Champagne, once the last grape is picked, it's time for the Cochelet. This Champenois feast brings together harvest workers and houses over local charcuterie, rustic breads… and a few well-earned glasses. Because yes, even in Champagne, they allow themselves to pop a bottle to celebrate the harvest. The only question is which one.

Rhône Valley: le Reboul 

In the vineyards of the Rhône, the end-of-harvest meal is sometimes called the Reboul — from the Provençal reboular, meaning "to recover, to bounce back". A vivid way of saying that after all the effort, it's time to recharge. Tables are set across the estates, Syrah and Grenache take centre stage, and the Southern accent is guaranteed.

Ben venuda & the harvest festivals of Alsace

In Alsace, harvest festivals take place across many villages throughout autumn — Obernai, Barr, Ribeauvillé… Flower-decked floats, traditional dances, all the Gewurztraminer you could want, and pretzels to go with it. In some villages, the term "Ben Venuda" — from the Alsatian-Romance dialect — is still used to welcome the grapes, and those who come to celebrate them.

And the rest of the world?

Because wine is not a French exclusive (tempting as it is to think so), the world's other great wine regions have their own traditions too.

Spain: la fiesta de la vendimia riojana (La Rioja)

Every 21st of September in Logroño, the capital of La Rioja transforms into a giant festival. The tradition stretches back over 900 years: the first grapes are trodden in the main square, the must is offered to the Virgin of Valvanera (patron saint of La Rioja), and then… the party runs for a full week. Flamenco, bullfights, fireworks and, of course, Tempranillo flowing freely. Los Españoles are clearly not messing around.

Italy: la festa dell'uva (Tuscany)

On the last Sunday of September, the small village of Impruneta, nestled in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone, has been celebrating the Festa dell'Uva since 1926. Grape-adorned parade floats, Sangiovese tastings, competitions between village neighbourhoods… Tuscany turns the harvest into a collective work of art. As you'd expect.

Portugal: the Douro harvest festival (Douro)

The Douro Valley dared to do something singular: blend the harvest with cinema, gastronomy and contemporary art. The result? A multidisciplinary festival where grapes are still trodden barefoot in granite lagares (yes, really), before guests take in arthouse film screenings and dine on terraces carved into the schist hillsides plunging into the river.

And what's your "Paulée"?

Girondin Gerbaude or Champenois Cochelet, the idea has been the same for centuries: when the work is done, you open the good bottles. Not to keep. To share. At U'wine, we champion that philosophy all year long. Our selections in Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and the world's great regions are here so that every end of the week feels a little like a harvest celebration. Because a great bottle should never have to wait for a special occasion.

👉 Discover our selections
👉 Understand vintages to choose better