Which two wine regions are known for requiring hand-picked grapes?

Beaujolais and Champagne are known for their traditional practices of hand-picking grapes, which is crucial for both regions due to the specific qualities of their wines and vineyard conditions.

In Beaujolais, especially during the harvest of Gamay grapes, hand-picking is essential to ensure that the fruit is handled delicately, preventing bruising and oxidation. The region also often harvests grapes at optimal ripeness, and hand-picking allows vineyard workers to select only the best bunches from the vines.

Champagne also relies heavily on hand-picking, as this method helps maintain the grapes' integrity, which is particularly important for the production of high-quality sparkling wines. The Champagne region often features steep slopes and small plots, making mechanical harvesting impractical and inefficient. Careful hand-harvesting ensures that the grapes are collected at their best and placed gently into baskets, reducing damage and preserving the delicate aromas and flavors crucial for Champagne production.

The practice of hand-picking is a labor-intensive process, but it is essential for maintaining the quality and character of the wines produced in these regions.