Spain is a country of great traditions and an exceptional tourist wealth, with an infinity of attractions that make visiting any area an unforgettable experience. The list of gastronomic benefits is innumerable and one of its most valued foods is wine.
A large part of the sector’s wealth lies in wine production, which enjoys notable international popularity. Today in this post, we would like to highlight the many wine-related festivities that we can enjoy in Spain. The list is extensive, but we wanted to select those that you cannot miss.
- Haro wine battle (La Rioja)
This festival, declared of National Tourist Interest since 2011, is one of the most unique in Spain, is celebrated on June 29 in the morning. Its dynamic is very simple: stain with wine everyone you meet on your way. The only rule is to wear white with the red scarf typical of this Riojan festivity. If you are a wine lover, this is an experience you have to live.
- Festivities of San Mateo and the Grape Harvest (Logroño- La Rioja)
Wine is the best ambassador of La Rioja and as such, it becomes the main event of the San Mateo festival.Also known as the Fiestas de la Vendimia Riojana (Riojan Grape Harvest Festival) since 1956. It is on September 21 when, in the Concha del Espolón, it takes place One of the most important events of the festivities, the Pisado de la Uva, where the first grape juice made in the old style, treading it in a jar, is offered to the patron saint, the Virgin of Valvanera. In addition, and to complete the visit to La Rioja, you can not miss a tour of the winery Finca Valpiedra, very close to Logroño and that will not leave you indifferent.
- Rueda Grape Harvest Festival (Castilla León)
It is held the second weekend of October in this city of Valladolid, which has already seen more than thirty editions throughout its history. The popularity of this municipality and its renowned Denomination of Origin Rueda make it an obligatory stop for any wine lover. The festival coincides with the end of the grape harvest and consists of a popular gathering of wine exaltation in which attendees come to taste the wines of this famous area. If you are going to enjoy these festivities, we recommend you to visit the Finca Montepedroso winery , in the same town.
- Priorat Wine Fair (Catalonia, Spain)
The first weekend of May is celebrated in Falset this fair dedicated to the wines of the two appellations of origin of the region, the DOC Priorat and DO Montsant. Numerous parallel events will take place during the weekend: conferences, introductory wine tasting courses, open days at different wineries, wine pairings…
- Ribeiro Wine Fair (Galicia, Spain)
Sports, musical entertainment and open-air dances will complete an extensive program whose main objective is to exalt the wines of the D.O. Ribeiro. They are held during the first weekend of May where they present the wines of the season, offer competitions, tastings, cultural events, demonstrations and exhibitions on the different wines of the region and a craft market.
- Albariño Festival in Cambados (Galicia, Spain)
We are talking about the oldest and most popular wine festival in Galicia, which was declared of International Tourist Interest in 2018. It is celebrated on the first Sunday of August in the world capital of Albariño, Cambados, and that is why that day has been named International Albariño Day. During that week, in the street of A Calzada there are booths where the wineries of the Rías Baixas offer their Albariño wines.
- Valdepeñas Grape Harvest and Wine Festival (Castilla La Mancha)
To speak of Valdepeñas is to speak of one of the best known wine appellations of origin in our country, so it is clear the relevance of its festivity, which is celebrated between September 1 and 8. Not in vain, it has been declared of National Tourist Interest since 1976. In it, the well-known Túnel del Vino, an initiative that has been held for twenty years (organized by the Asociación de Jóvenes Amigos del Vino) in which the wineries present their new wines, and offer the possibility of tasting them.
- Grape Harvest Festival in Toro (Castile and Leon)
Symbol of the recovery of traditional festivities, the Grape Harvest Festival in Toro makes the city and its inhabitants go back in time for a few days. At the beginning of September, this town dresses up to celebrate these days full of festivities where the carts decorated with garlands and loaded with baskets full of grapes become the protagonists parading through the streets of Toro.
The parade of the carts is accompanied, in addition to the grapes, with the typical grape harvest food: chorizo, ham, cheese, peppers, bread, torreznos and that everyone who passes by is invited to taste.
- Jerez de la Frontera Grape Harvest Festival (Andalusia, Spain)
Jerez is home to one of the most popular and oldest festivities in the wine industry. Its tradition dates back several centuries and, like many of the festivals related to wine, usually takes place in the first two weeks of September. It is also considered of National Tourist Interest. As an emblem of the grape harvest, the grape treading, which marks the beginning of the festivities and gives way to numerous activities, could not be missed. In addition, there are wine tasting cycles, both for experts and amateurs, where you will have the opportunity to taste and learn all about the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Denomination of Origin.
- Grape Harvest Festival in Alella (Catalonia)
In the heart of the DO Alella, hides this village that houses wineries with history and a wine full of flavor, personality and quality as one of its maxims.
Throughout these festivities, during the second week of September, all kinds of typical activities are held, such as the first must or the treading of the grapes. The grape cutting that stars the youngest of Alella to the testimonial vineyard of Can Magarola, or the grape harvest dawn, a unique experience for the earliest ones, who can see the sunrise while harvesting, and enjoy a good and well-deserved lunch afterwards.
- Peñafiel Grape Harvest Festival (Castilla y León)
It has been gathering wine lovers for almost 30 years at the beginning of October and has been incorporating more and more attractions for visitors, such as Riberjoven, a pinchos contest designed to pair Ribera del Duero wines with nouvelle cuisine.
- The Grape Harvest Festival at Sitges (Catalonia)
Held since 1961, around the third week of October, Sitges hosts this traditional Grape Harvest Festival, organized by the Sitges Town Hall and Foment with the sponsorship of Cellers Familia Torres. This celebration consists of the Ofrenda de la Vendimia (Offering of the Grape Harvest) that takes place in the parish of San Bartolomé and Santa Tecla. It also features the pressing of the first must (as the grapes were pressed in the past to make wine), a grape treading contest and a wine exhibition.
We hope these ideas will help you to prepare your wine route and that you will have the opportunity to attend one of these celebrations. Perhaps, we have not included all those worth mentioning. So, we would like to ask you: what other festivities related to wine and grape harvest do you know?
