The event, which took place as part of the local cultural programme of the Czech presidency of the Council of the European Union, was hosted at Bernard-Massard in Grevenmacher, with visitors getting harvesting tips and other insights from the winery’s general manager .
In a brief welcome speech, Czech ambassador to Luxembourg said he had been “very excited” for the event for some time, for two reasons: “First, to meet you all. Second, that we can actually participate in something that is really Luxembourgish and which we enjoy all year long: the crémants and wines from Bernard-Massard.”
Clasen, who has been picking grapes since he was a young boy, explained more about the pinot noir variety before the team set off for the vineyards. “It’s not the most common grape in Luxembourg, but one we cherish very much. It’s a very delicate variety.”
The guests carpooled to the vineyards near Wormeldange to a spot which Clasen said was slightly less steep than some other areas. After a brief explanation on the best techniques for harvesting, the guests got to work, some starting at the top, others near the middle, working their way down the slopes under an intense sun. Each pair worked one side of the vines, making it quite a social occasion as they exchanged stories about their country’s own wine cultures and more.
According to Clasen, the time to harvest depends on the weather from year to year but generally takes about six to seven weeks in total. He predicts this year’s vintage will be excellent, given the hot and dry summer, and if the pinot noir collected on Friday is made into wine (as opposed to crémant), it could be drunk by 2024.
After around two hours, hands sticky from the harvest, the group set back to winery to enjoy an apéritif and a lunch, complete with a selection of wines from Bernard-Massard which included vintages from their other estates, Clos des Rochers and Château de Sengen. The group learned they had collected enough grapes to make about 600 litres of wine.
The presidency of the Council rotates every six months. After the Czech presidency, Sweden’s will commence in January 2023.