The Vendange or Wine Harvest starts in September and runs through to November. Most of the Vineyards are only too pleased to receive volunteers as this is their busiest time of the year. There is great excitement in the Loire region leading up to harvest, anticipating the results of the years grapes.

You will never enjoy a glass of wine more than if you helped harvest that vintage in a previous year. The French are passionate about their “terroires” or land and its produce and there’s nothing better than a good wine to encapsulate the tastes, smells and climate of the region where you yourself have stayed and helped with the harvest.

La Grande Maison is situated between the wine appelations of Anjou, Saumur and the VDQS region of Thouarsais. Our local vineyards are in the next door village of Oiron. Domaine des Terres Blanches grow Chenin Blanc, Gamay and Cabernet Franc.They produce around 50,000 bottles a year on their eight and a half hectares of vines. The above video is of your hosts helping with the harvesting of Chenin Blanc grapes for Domaine des Terres Blanches “Chenin Demi Sec” wine in the Autumn of 2011.