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Saturday, October 9, 2010

Grape Harvest in Germany/ Weinlese in Deutschland

Lots of women in this picture... Where are the guys? I will start from the left going to the right. You see my sister Sabine, my mom's cousin Ludmilla (who we all referred to as Tante Luddi), my mom, my oldest sister Susanne, my second oldest sister Christine, my cousin Ellen, and me.

The little baby in the basket is my youngest sister Kathi. Kathi was born in 1972. The picture must have been around taken around 1973/74. Kathi couldn't walk yet. So when we went to harvest the grapes, we carried her, all bundled up in her cozy laundry basket, up and down the rows of the vinyard.
To put this picture in context, one has to understand that I grew up in the Nahe-river valley. It's one of many famous wine growing regions in Germany. My parents were not winegrowers themselves. My father inherited a couple of vineyards from his dad. We would harvest the grapes, and then my dad would sell them or trade them to one of the local winery's for some wine. Not quite sure how it all worked. Fact is, we had to go out in all kinds of weather and pick the grapes. It was hard work. Even more so when you had to carry little sis' up and down those steep hills...But I remember those days fondly - now that I am older.

8 comments:

woolies said...

Beautiful old pictures - love hearing about your life in Germany. :)

Eve's Little Earthlings said...

I remember my farm days fondly NOW as well! Cute pictures. My parents came to Canada from Germany, so I am always interested in your German memories.

momma rae said...

so neat! what wonderful memories you share here. :)

BirchLeaf Designs - Wendy and Mojo said...

Oh my Ulla! That is so fun! What a beautiful memory to hold on to.

germandolls said...

Now I wish I was in Germany to go visit the vinyards and sneek a few grapes...

dragonflyducky said...

I hope you got to eat some grapes and they didn't all go into wine! :) We lived in Oestrich-Winkel when I was a kid and smelling ripe grapes instantly brings back the memory of living there.

Britta said...

and not to forget the "Federweisser" - the featherwhite - sparkly young wine. This and a good piece of onion quiche is the best in fall... I'll have one for you, Ulla!

Greetings from the Rhine,
Britta

germandolls said...

I really wish I could get hold of some of this Federweisser! Bad girl, Britta to mention it. Now I miss it even more...