At the end of September 2024, the Jurade de Saint-Émilion once again orchestrated the Ban des Vendanges, a historic ceremony marking the official start of the grape harvest in this legendary wine-growing region. Organized every year, this event is not only a kick-off to the harvest, but also a tribute to centuries of tradition and know-how handed down from generation to generation.
A tradition rooted in history
With its roots in the Middle Ages, the Ban des Vendanges is a crucial event for Saint-Émilion's winegrowers. In those days, the Jurade, a brotherhood founded in 1199 under the reign of King John Landless of England, had the role of monitoring the quality of the wines produced in the region. Experts sent to the vineyards inspected the ripeness of the grapes before giving the green light for the harvest to begin. This strict control ensured that only perfectly ripe grapes were harvested, contributing to the excellence of Saint-Émilion wines.
Although the harvesting process has evolved over the centuries, this tradition lives on through the Ban des Vendanges ceremony. Today, the event symbolizes not only the official opening of the harvest, but also a celebration of the winemakers' commitment to producing exceptional vintages. The Jurade, in its red and gold regalia, symbolically steps back in time, reminding everyone of the importance of vineyard work and generations of know-how.
A time for sharing and festivities
Once again this year, the Jurade proclaimed the opening of the grape harvest from the ramparts of the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, offering a magnificent panorama of the surrounding vineyards. The ceremony brought together winemakers, personalities from the world of wine and connoisseurs of great vintages from all over the world to celebrate the new vintage.
The festivities continued with parades and convivial moments, where participants were able to taste vintages from previous years. This event embodies the union of tradition and innovation, underlining the fact that although agricultural methods are evolving, the soul of Saint-Émilion wines remains intimately linked to its past.
The ongoing quest for excellence
For the winegrowers of Saint-Émilion, the quest for quality remains a priority, just as it was in medieval times. Rigorous controls before and during the harvest ensure that each vintage reflects the excellence of this unique terroir. The grapes are hand-picked at the precise moment of optimum ripeness, ensuring that each bottle of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru perpetuates the world-renowned reputation for excellence of this region.
This year's edition of the Ban des Vendanges, with its unique atmosphere and unchanged traditions, continues to unite all the players in the wine world around the same objective: to preserve and sublimate the wine heritage of Saint-Émilion. A day which, more than a simple ritual, marks an indestructible link between the past and the future of one of the world's greatest wine terroirs.
