Picking Grapes in Alsace

I really only got to pick grapes one time.

At the October harvest in Riquewihr, Alsace, one of the most beautiful harvests anywhere. And that was only because Ed Lauber of Lauber Imports put in a good word with one of his vineyards. My 'payment' for standing around holding grape shears in blistering hands, sitting at the long vineyard table and sharing a huge luscious lunch. Alsacian grape picking is a family affair. Everyone knows everyone else. And every member of the family shows up to help with les vendanges.

At Regaleali Vineyard in Sicily I just watched, as the pickers

sing, chat and pick the grapes in a most leisurely fashion. You can take cooking lessons there with the Countess Anna Tasca-Lanza.

I only imagined these Tuscan grape pickers. I was never there at harvest time. Tuscan vineyards are some of the most beautiful and idlyic.

In Napa Valley, California, the grape pickers don't walk.They run or race to get the job done.

More imagined grape pickers, this time in Burgundy where

they used to carry big straw baskets/paniers on their shoulders.You can sometimes still find these at French ebay.

You'll find all kinds of wine-related goodies on ebay.fr I should know. I spent hours looking for so-called still life objects. I've got a kitchen closet full of taste-vins to prove it!

Imagined 19th century Bordeaux pickers.

More imaginary grape picker doodles.The figures are more fun to draw than the grapes.

I'm much better at wielding a paintbrush than a pair of grape shears/secateurs . Some passerby on La Route du vin in the Medoc insisted on taking this quaint picture of the artiste at work.