On August 12, we brought out the first crates and pruning shears and began the 2026 harvest at Domaine Allegria.
After spending an entire year tending the vines, the moment we had been waiting for finally arrived: harvest time.
A very early harvest in the Languedoc
After a winter with plenty of rain and a particularly hot summer, the vines developed quickly.
On August 12, we started with the grapes for our white and rosé wines.
Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Cinsault… We follow, observe and taste the grapes in each vineyard parcel to choose just the right moment to pick.
By the end of August, all the grapes for our whites and rosés were already safely in the cellar.
Then it was time for the reds: Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan and, of course, our Cinsault.
Harvesting by hand
At Domaine Allegria, most of our grapes are harvested by hand.
Hand-picking allows us to take care of the bunches and make a first selection directly in the vineyard.
The grapes are gently placed in small crates before making their way to the cellar.
From the vineyard to the cellar
During harvest, the days start early.
The grapes arrive at the winery, the presses are running, the tanks are filling and the first fermentations begin.
It’s tiring, of course! But it is also one of the most intense and joyful moments of our life as winegrowers: the culmination of an entire year’s work in the vineyard.
And the beginning of a new story in the cellar.
A fantastic harvest team
A huge thank you to everyone who helped us with the harvest this year.
Young retirees or energetic students, familiar faces or newcomers, the atmosphere is always cheerful despite the heat and the intensity of the days!
And fortunately, at Allegria, a harvest day always ends around the table with a good lunch or a festive dinner.
Because harvest is also about that: working together, laughing, sharing and gathering around a big table.
The 2026 vintage begins
Today, the harvest is over.
The crates have been put away and the pruning shears can finally have a rest.
But in the cellar, the work continues.
The juices are fermenting, the wines are slowly beginning to take shape, and the 2026 vintage is starting its life.
After such an unusual year, with a rainy winter, a very hot summer and an exceptionally early harvest, we can’t wait to discover what this new vintage will bring.
See you in a few months to taste it!