TomP
7/7/2015 10:49 EST
Is anyone interested in helping me harvest my vineyards this coming March and April 2016 in San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina.
I cannot pay you a wage but I might help with sleeping accommodations and some sight seeing. This would be for fun and to see a little of Argentina.
Contact Tom at US# (919) 321-8448 or tomphelany@yahoo.com
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TomP
7/8/2015 16:48 EST
July 8, 2015
Thanks for your reply and hopefully I can explain how it works.
Typically, I say "typically" because the ripening of a grape, for example Chardonnay, can occur in late February to late March.
Red grapes are normally ready to harvest in April. The actual harvest (picking the grapes) only last a few days so talking in the terms of months just isn't economically feasible from my POV.
The harvest pickers show up early in the AM, 6:30 or so when it is cool. Thy are given gloves and clippers and a container when filled will weight about 45 pounds. The container is then carried by the picker to a nearby truck that has a ramp leading up to its top where another worker takes the container and empties it into the truck or bin. Speed and strength are essential, however, because you are doing this for the experience and free I do not expect you to keep up with a twenty-year-old experienced harvester.
Thus you might have a few days picking Chardonnay, there's only 7.75 acres still this year's harvest (2015) produced 49,000 kgs. or nearly 103,000 pounds. Our red grape harvest was three times that and required about a week of harvesting.
Candidly, this is not a job for someone looking for round trip airfare and a place to crash for free and be fed for months at a time.
It is for someone who wants the experience of learning about the harvest, enjoying good wine with friends at an Argentine asado and visiting some great Bodegas and all within a few weeks.
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Eposternak
7/8/2015 18:17 EST
Thanks for the opportunity to work for free,
But I pass, I will choose myself where to visit and learn.
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TomP
7/8/2015 20:15 EST
It's your dime and your time so you should go where you want to visit and learn.
Just out of curiosity how many countries have you visited and learned?
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TomP
7/9/2015 07:24 EST
My congratulations to you for you have figured out how to visit 30 countries and I assume not work unless paid, quite a feat.
You should write a book about how you have accomplished this.
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Eposternak
7/9/2015 10:32 EST
Thanks for your advice, maybe you can suggest an agent.
Coming from you, such an entrepeneur, is encouraging. Someone that in 2015 still tries to abuse people. Very clever. And lets stop it here.
Regards
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TomP
7/9/2015 11:24 EST
Sorry that you misconstrue "work for the experience".
I do offer room and board while working but not traveling expenses.
I was sincere about you writing a book and you don't need an Agent, not with Ebooks today. You might successfully launch a grassroots approach.
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elhombresinnombre
7/10/2015 20:02 EST
There are a number of universities worldwide which now offer winemaking studies: I wonder if getting the word out to them and offering seasonal placements might be a way forward here?
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TomP
7/11/2015 08:22 EST
elhombre,
Excellent suggestion, now all I have to do it determine who those "Universities" are.
I got the idea from a fellow vineyard owner in San Rafael who invited French people to harvest his grapes. He put them up and fed them for a few weeks.
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Katerina
7/11/2015 11:36 EST
David English, a consultant who lives full-time in Mendoza, coordinates university groups who come to Argentina to complement their education. He's written a book about expat entrepreneurs in Argentina, most of whom are in the wine district. It would be worth talking to him since he connects winery businesses with universities.
In reference to the other comments, it is actually very common for people to volunteer time as part of a vacation, in exchange for room and board. From what I've seen on line, a good number of vacationers pay quite a bit for planned vacations where they work doing something they want to experience, such as archaeology, or wine making. So your approach is logical. But given the physical demands it makes sense that you will need to rely mainly on younger tourists or university students.
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TomP
7/11/2015 11:43 EST
Katerina,
Thanks for the info. Actually I know David reasonably well and never thought of connecting the dots, duh, my mistake. I'll talk to him.
I agree that younger visitors (workers) probably are better adapted at the hard work but I have seen sixty-year-old Argentine men and women do a good job at harvesting as well.
I'm not a Pharaoh cracking the whip and can only expect so much from someone who is inexperienced and perhaps older, however, a young person who doesn't want to put in any time and just lay back isn't a recipe for success either.
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Katerina
7/11/2015 11:52 EST
Totally, understood, Tom. I'm just thinking of my own situation. My husband and I were in Mendoza last March, on a wine tour. I'd love to come back in the future to spend more time there. I'm fit and over 60. But hauling 45 lb baskets is probably more than I'd be willing to take on these days...
On the other hand, I'd be happy to write an article about the process, and opportunity of working at a winery for a vacation... Let me know if that's of interest. You can send me a PM. I am a published travel writer.
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TomP
7/11/2015 11:59 EST
Katerina,
Sounds very interesting, maybe we can pit something together. I guarantee you'll have a blast with me and the people I know beginning with dinner at an Estancia that dates back to 1830.
Here's my email: tomphelany@yahoo.com
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elhombresinnombre
7/11/2015 13:45 EST
Well, when I googled "Winemaking studies" before replying to your post, the first three results were from universities in New Zealand, the UK and Australia, respectively. I know they are a long way off but I should have thought that in itself would be part of the learning experience.
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paladino
7/12/2015 07:58 EST
This sounds interesting Tom, if I am to be in that part of SA in the spring I might be interested in getting the exercise...but you sound a little hesitant on providing sleeping accommodations. If you want suck someon in, you got to cough up a room, soup and free coffee....just saying.
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TomP
7/12/2015 08:37 EST
Paladino,
Thanks for the email.
Maybe I have failed to state it clearly enough, I am offering a place to stay and meals.
However, it will only be for the period of the harvest plus a few days thus 2 weeks is likely with one month being max.
Also, you would be required to stay at a very nice rural hostile and share your quarters with others. No cushy individual rooms unless I can strike a deal with the Hostile owner, he also owns a couple of rental houses on his property.
And the meals would be served at the Hostile which has lovely grounds including a parilla. In others words I am not paying for a worker to go into town and eat at a fancy restaurant.
Hope this clarifies things.
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melissa1984
7/22/2015 10:48 EST
Wow, might be able to give someone a place to stay after working their butt off day after day. Actually I am embarrassed that you are american. Far as I know slave labor was abolished quite some time ago and just because u are painting a pretty picture doesn't keep this from being about u making money off someone else's labor with no compensation.
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TomP
7/22/2015 11:06 EST
Melissa,
Wow, who put a porcupine in your picket basket?
I guess you have never heard of "Externships" for example my daughter attended the CIA (Culinary Institute Of America) in New York and in her final semester she was required to work for two weeks at a commercial restaurant for FREE. She did it for the experience.
And when you can say I get your services "for free" it is a puzzlement to me when I am paying for your room and board and some outings. Does your present employer pay your rent and feed you?
Lighten up and if you ever want to visit Argentina, pay for it including room and board and you won't have to work a lick.
Good luck.
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todikaios
7/22/2015 18:33 EST
I think Tom should be greatly compensated for making the offer...
There's no "slave labor" involved when a person volunteers to work. No one is being forced to help Tom. If I was younger I'd be eager to have the experience without regard to $$. I wonder how much Melissa "earns" in her day job to pay her bills, etc. Keep your chin up Tom...you're doing the right thing in offering this opportunity to those who rightfully know its value. Argentina is far from being a "cheap place to live," as inflation of 30+% per year for the past few years has made it be as expensive or more expensive than most of the lower 48 States.
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TomP
7/23/2015 07:44 EST
todikaios,
Thank you for your comments and you are right, a loaf of bread, a quart of milk, a pound of butter or a pound of hamburger will cost as much in Argentina as the USA. Gasoline is twice as much as is electricity.
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Eposternak
7/23/2015 10:32 EST
In 1865 President Lincoln abolish Slavery, in ths US.
In Argentina, is illegal not paying salaries, to workers, regardless the smart the employer tries to be. Will like to know, and will check, with the Local Union, (sindicato unico de trabajadores contratistas de vinas y frutales de Mendoza) their opinion regarding working for free. On top, you are an american, and they will accuse the US of abusing labor rigths.
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TomP
7/23/2015 11:14 EST
First of all why are you taking such umbrage to my offer? If you don't like it-pass on it.
Maybe revealing a little bit more about yourself will help explain your diatribe.
What you say is "true" and that disregarding paying wages and that is exactly why I pay all Argentine Government mandated wages plus benefits to my Argentine vineyard workers. In fact I even have an Argentine CPA who keeps my books.
So check all you want.
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