Taking place for the 3rd time, the autumn event entitled "At the Heart of the Harvest" delighted more than 950 apprentice grape harvesters!

On the weekends of 23-24 September and 30 September/1st October, the third national "At the Heart of the Harvest" autumnal fair took place, organised by Swiss Wine Promotion (SWP), the Swiss wines national body. This year, the organisers were able to rely on thirty-nine Swiss wineries to welcome more than nine-hundred and fifty apprentice grape harvesters.

The first two "At the Heart of the Harvest" events were held over a single day only. For 2023, in response to the enthusiasm of both the wine cellars and the participants, SWP extended the event over two weekends: 23-24 September and 30 September - 1 October. For these four dates, thirty-nine wineries, from the five wine regions, were showcased. They welcomed more than nine-hundred and fifty people, young and old, for a few hours' full immersion in the heart of the vineyard. After a beautiful Summer, it was grape harvesting season, and the participants had the chance to experience it first-hand. The apprentice grape harvesters were able to celebrate this intense and emotional moment together with the passionate winemakers.

After a warm welcome, followed by safety tips, the day began by heading out to discover the harvest. The daily programmes varied depending on the progress of the harvest in the field or the weather. Nevertheless, it was a great opportunity to discover the work in the vineyard and the cellar, to taste grape juice and the ‘must’, as well as understand everything there is to know about the winemaking processes. The day ended with a tasting of the specialties of the estate followed by a friendly meal where the harvesters for the day and the traditional wine makers were able to exchange thoughts.

This third event brought together some thirty-nine ‘domains’ spread across Switzerland:  fourteen from Valais, thirteen the canton of Vaud, six in German-speaking Switzerland, 3 from Geneva and three in the Trois-Lacs region. SWP is delighted to announce the sale of over 85% of the tickets. Thanks to the commitment of the organisations participating, the public was able to discover the work of the vineyards and the wineries, as well as tasting Swiss wines directly from the producers, with whom they were able to establish direct and obviously quite special relationships.

The enthusiasm of the participants, in addition to the positive response of the winemakers, enhances SWP's desire to continue to organise events that promote the discovery of Swiss wines, direct contact, and short supply chains in order to promote the consumption of local produce. Next Spring, at the time of the flowering of the vine, the date of the next "At the Heart of the 2024 Harvest" event will be communicated.

Swiss Wine Promotion would also like to thank all the partners who contributed to the success of this project: the participating estates, the promotional bodies of the six wine regions as well as the media and our technical partners.