As summer draws to a close, the traditional Ban des Vendanges (Harvest Proclamation festival) celebrates the arrival of the new vintage’s grapes. This traditional folk event signals the start of the harvest. Standing in the village square, dressed in “commanders’ uniforms”, the wine producers announce that the grapes have ripened and that the harvest shall now commence. After a tasting of the first press juices, the Vinsobres wine producers offer visitors a tasting of their finest wines.

The Ban des Vendanges originally served the purpose of collecting the “dime” or “tithe” that was due for the harvest. In Vinsobres this tradition had already existed “since time immemorial” back in 1309, and was recorded in an act passed in the presence of Autrand, a notary in Ventral, who entitled the Abbesses of Saint-Césaire d’Arles to collect this tithe. An act putting an end to the practice was passed in the presence of notaries, Fauvan and Lambertin, in 1606.

The act stipulated that “the dime on the harvests shall be collected on the thirtieth part” and that the “farmers and sharecroppers must bring the thirtieth part of their crops to the hall, using baskets, carts or other receptacles, excluding any fruit to be discarded.”

It was the role of the town authorities to determine the official start date of the harvest.

Terre de Vins is a bi-monthly consumer magazine devoted to wine and gastronomy. The magazine recently featured the wines and vineyards of Vinsobres in an article on its walks and tastings.

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The Vinsobres appellation was awarded Cru (AOC) status in February 2006 making it the very first appellation to receive this title in Provençal Drôme. 2016 marks the tenth anniversary of its achievement of this prestigious status.

In order to mark the occasion, a special cuvee, named ”L’Essentiel” was produced from a blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre and Carignan. Tastings were held on a barge that departed from the CCI trading port in Porte-lès-Valence, passing through Lyon, before arriving in Paris on the 30th of May last year. No less than 1,500 bottles sailed up the Rhône River.

The wine producers committee held an anniversary ceremony at Château de Deurre on Friday 3 June in the presence of local and regional representatives as well as those responsible for the management of the Cru.

“Obtaining Cru (AOC) status has enabled the appellation to evolve and gain recognition during the difficult conditions in the wine industry over recent years. It has also helped the work of our young wine producers, contributed to the development of new domaines in the appellation and caught the attention of key industry players such as the Perrin family” explains Pascal Jaume. “This positive dynamic has helped us to distinguish ourselves from the Villages appellations. We have significantly improved the quality of our wines by working closely with our terroir and respecting the environment.”