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Vineyard + garden assistant in France - Bordeaux

5.0
(16 reviews)16

The experience

Château Civrac is a small, independently owned vineyard in the Cotes de Bourg appellation 50 min NW of Bordeaux. We prioritise quality over quantity, seek to foster environmentally sustainable practices, innovation, and positive cultural exchanges with volunteers from different parts of the world.

What you offer

25 hours of help per week

Kitchen Hand: Help prepare, finish and serve meals.

Animal Care: Help look after and take care of animals.

Farming: Plant crops, sow seeds and help in outside tasks.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Discounts on Drinks: Get discounts for drinks and beverages from our bar.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Requirements

Over 20 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Helping at the Chateau will provide a first-hand insight into the process of wine-making in Bordeaux. We aim to provide the setting for a convivial experience for people from diverse backgrounds to work, share meals and make the most of a visit to the region

We hope to host volunteers for various roles in 2024. While staying at a working vineyard, volunteers will have ample opportunities to learn about vineyard practices and the winemaking process on the estate, and the opportunity to explore the region and visit other local wineries.

Activities & Shift

In addition to tending the vineyard, we have a variety of side projects which include building renovation, setup and tending to our vegetable garden and caring for our chickens and sheep. We also welcome volunteer-led projects to leave their mark on our property, such as painting murals in the winery or other creative input.

Rules

Prospective volunteers should understand the property is under renovation and still a work in progress. We expect volunteers to be proactive and motivated to leave the property in better shape than they find it.

Provisions:

We supply 3 meals per day according to the following schedule

Breakfast - Before work
Lunch - 1 PM
Dinner - 7:30 PM

Picnics, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not provided. Please do not use the kitchen and food supplies outside of scheduled meal times. Beer and wine are often shared, but think about contributing in proportion to your consumption.

As part of a sustainable operation please be mindful of your energy and water use. (do not leave taps running, or the heating on when you’re not in the home, full loads only in washing machine)

Waste is separated between

- Clean burning
- Compost / chicken feed
- Glass
- Recyclables
- General waste

Take a moment/ask to understand where everything goes

As a courtesy to fellow guests, please keep the common areas clean and tidy. Do not leave dirty dishes or coffee cups in the sink.

Be mindful to be ready to start work and have meals ready on the agreed schedule.