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The Italian vineyards, particularly in the Tuscan and Chianti regions, start their harvests in September/October depending on the weather. This is a great time to visit Italy just before the winter sets in and the crowds have dispersed from the summer season. Most vineyards won't mind you dropping in to visit if they officially open for wine tasting anyway. On private farms you should ask permisson.
If you want to join in with the harvest many farms do accept farm help, however payment is usually pretty small or may be made in free bottles of wine or olive oil as these are family affairs where everyone pitches in and if they do employ anyone it is usually in the way of cheap immigrant labour.
The wine harvest is a fun occassion and the work is not hard. The weather is cool and if it's a good farm there will be plenty of jokes and singing (all in Italian though) and usually a celebratory feast for lunch each day where you can sample some of last years vintage! |
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