Harvest attracts visitors with grape treading and wine tasting – 02/04/2024 – Marcelo Katsuki

So close to São Paulo, but many people are still unaware of the attractions that the wineries of São Roque, a city located 65 km from the capital, offer to visitors. I went to see the harvest at the Góes winery, an activity that involves the harvesting of grapes and the beginning of wine production, and I was surprised by everything I saw there. Starting with the facilities and the organization of the event.

The winery offers different types of activities, from a guided tasting of three wines at the counter for R$45, with a personalized glass as a gift, to the harvest experience, with class, visit to the farm with harvest followed by grape treading, snacks and a themed lunch with unlimited wine for R$480. As a bonus, you also get the lunch glass, the hat used during the harvest and a voucher to collect a bottle of the wine you helped produce.

There’s also a picnic in the vineyards, the moonlit harvest, the sparkling wine festival and even a wine bike which covers a route of 11 km. The harvest or any other activity must be scheduled via the website, where you will find all information on times, prices and location. The headquarters also has restaurants, cafes and wine barand a wine store, for those who just want to see the winery’s beautiful facilities.

I participated in an activity called Harvest Góes Harmonizada. Upon arrival, the visitor is welcomed in a large warehouse where they choose their hat and have water and grape juice available, in addition to being able to take photos with characters in typical clothes in a scenography made with panels. Afterwards, you are taken to a room with a presentation where the company’s history is shown and you participate in a brief conversation with the winery’s president.

Several open cars (“trains”) transport participants to the farm, where the vineyards are located. Upon arrival, you will visit the grape reception and maceration area, the stainless steel tanks where the must (liquid extracted from the grapes) ferments, followed by a break for a snack with juices and sparkling wine.

Harvest time arrives. Armed with a hat, basket and scissors, visitors enter the vineyard to collect the grapes, which are then transported to a nearby warehouse where they are deposited in large wooden tubs.

To the sound of a festive soundtrack – which begins with “Bate o Pé”, by Roberto Leal – the grape treading begins, done in groups divided into three rows. It’s not mandatory, but who’s going to miss the opportunity to have this fun experience? You can repeat the step or continue to wash your feet and enjoy a draft of wine.

Once this stage is complete, the group heads to a large open warehouse where lunch is served. You can go by transfer, but the walk across the green lawn is so satisfying that it shouldn’t be overlooked.

The rich buffet has several starters with antipasti, pies and salads and three main dishes: filet au poivre, cod à Zé do Pipo and cannelloni with ricotta and spinach. The open wine bar is a feast for drink lovers, with 10 label options including sparkling, white and red wines, as well as juices and water.

After the meal, it’s time to settle down on the lawn, which has chairs and mats under the shade of the farm’s trees, while you digest. And with a little luck, win one of the raffled gifts, which range from bottles of wine, caps and even the opportunity to perform a sabrage, the technique of opening a bottle of sparkling wine using a saber. A perfect afternoon.

Góes Winery – map here
Str. do Vinho (Spv-077), 9111 – Canguera, São Roque – SP

LINK PRESENT: Did you like this text? Subscribers can access five free accesses from any link per day. Just click the blue F below.