Sorine windmill and vineyards, Santenay wine region, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

A toast to the harvest. Santenay wine region, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Each year, late summer and early autumn bring one of France's most anticipated traditions: the 'vendanges,' the grape-picking season. The timing varies from one wine region to another and depends on weather conditions, sun exposure and the ripeness of the fruit. For many vineyards, harvest is still a hands-on effort, with teams carefully selecting bunches destined for some of the country's most celebrated wines.

The scene is especially striking in Santenay, at the southern end of Burgundy's Côte de Beaune. Here, rows of vines stretch across rolling hills beneath the Sorine windmill, a restored 19th-century landmark that overlooks the surrounding countryside and vineyards, as seen in today's image.

Harvesting grapes has shaped French life for centuries. Its importance even echoes in the French Republican calendar, which named its opening month after the gathering of the crop—a reminder of how deeply winemaking is woven into the nation's history. As baskets fill and the vineyards glow with autumn colour, the season blends agriculture, heritage and celebration into a uniquely French ritual.