France's White Wine Harvest

Marine Brun, right, a seasonal worker, empties her basket after picking white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008. In theory, the harvest should start 110 days after the blossoming. In practice the decision is left to the director, who must weigh many factors.

A seasonal worker picks white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008. Factors that determine when to harvest include climatic parameters, potential problems that threaten the vines, the maturity of the grapes, and various other concerns.

Seasonal workers pick white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.

A seasonal worker picks white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.

Seasonal workers pick white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.

Marine Brun, a seasonal worker, picks white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.

A seasonal worker picks white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.

A seasonal worker empties her basket after picking white grape bunches during the annual white wine harvest at the Chateau Haut-Brion in the Graves wine region in Pessac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008.