Armed with shears and headlamps to guide us, we filed into the vineyard rows like soldiers, performing the synchronized ritual that has existed for centuries: picking grapes for wine harvest.

Since our overall best pick was also sparkling ... Prima Pavé Rosé Dolce: If you prefer your wine sweet — but not as sweet as, say, literal grape juice — this is the bottle for you.

I sold nearly everything and moved to Austria to harvest grapes. I'm now 4 months into my wine journey and have discovered ... and booked a one-way ticket to hand-pick grapes with strangers ...