The Jurats Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, Hubert de Boüard, the Saint-Emilion mayor Bernard Lauret and Jean-François Galhaud at the sides of the Saint-Emilion Jurade’s guest of honour, the French astronaut Thomas Pesquet (centre), who was inducted at the Ban des Vendanges ceremony on 22nd September. The Saint-Emilion Ban des Vendanges is a major ceremony in the life of the Saint-Emilion wine community. Its continuation is a revisited time-honoured tradition. In times gone by, experts were sent in advance into the vines to ensure that the grapes were perfectly ripe, and thus guarantee the excellence of the crop. Today the Ban des Vendanges links the past with the future. It is also an occasion for the celebration of the vintage being harvested.