Wine Harvests in Europe - Working and Volunteering in the Vineyards. Certain types of work have a romantic appeal that transcends the extremely difficult labor involved; archaeological excavation and grape picking head the list. Still, for the traveler who wants to immerse himself in local tradition, working a wine harvest can't be such a bad thing. Trouble is, new EU labor laws make working the wine harvest much more difficult than it used to be, especially if you reside outside the European Union.
Volunteering may be your only choice. Still, meeting the locals, drinking the local wine, and enjoying the harvest festivals may make it worthwhile for you. You may have some luck finding volunteer work in La vendemmia in Italy or Vendage in France by contacting the local tourist offices in wine production areas. About.com: WWOOF Greece …living, learning, sharing organic lifestyles « World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.