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Take an off-season journey into Europe’s fall grape harvest for heritage, flavor, and culture

Every Autumn, something magical happens in the vineyards of Europe: green, golden, and red grapes reach the perfect state of maturity. To honor the fruit that will become great wines, people hold vibrant celebrations. The vineyards come alive with grape-picking, joyous festivals, and cultural activities. It’s the perfect time to savor local wines, meet the people who make them, and see stunning autumnal landscapes. All you have to do? Tweak your travel dates to come at the right time. It will be a richer experience. Here are three offbeat places to catch this unmissable event.

Germany: The Saxon Wine Trail

Germany produces some of Europe’s greatest unsung wines. Its major regions are renowned for their superior grapes and the wonderful fall harvest festivals. The best way to experience German wines is to join the Saxon Wine Trail. Start the trail in Pirna to dive into the country’s great vineyards. Then make your way to Pillnitz, famous for its wines and a beautiful castle complex nearby the vineyards. From there, Radebeul and Coswig, two towns near Meissen, are worth a visit. Their sloping vineyards are famous throughout the region. And finally, stop at Diesbar-Seusslitz, a romantic wine-growing village, the final and southernmost stop on the trail.

Spain: La Rioja’s “Fiestas de San Mateo”

La Rioja’s wine harvest festival, held each September, celebrates the harvest with a week of rollicking grape stomping, wine tastings, live music, and fireworks. Set in the fabulous rolling vineyards along the Ebro River, the festival honors Rioja wine and the local tapas that go so well with it. Hidden tip: make sure to see the peñas or social clubs that come dressed in vibrant costumes to play music at the festivities. This is truly an unforgettable dive into Spanish culture, cuisine, and above all, centuries of winemaking traditions.

Grape harvest in Portugal’s Douro Valley

It may come as a surprise that the world’s oldest demarcated wine region is not in Italy or France but in Portugal’s flawless Douro Valley. Each Autumn, the valley comes alive during the grape harvest, which is still done completely by hand without the help of machines. All it takes to join in is to visit at the right time. If you do, you’ll work among residents on the valley’s terraced vineyards along the Douro River, going back in time when all grape harvests were done by hand. It is sure to be an experience brimming over with deep connections to the land, its people, and its heritage, all set in one of Europe’s most breathtaking locales.

Things to consider before traveling

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Some tips to consider while traveling

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