La Vendimia - Spain’s Harvest Wine Festivals are Here!

Celebrated en masse across Spain’s wine regions, the vendimia is the name of Spain’s harvest wine festival - bringing together nature, viticulture and tradition, while marking the end of summer and the beginning of fall. One of the key wine festivals is the San Mateo Fiesta de la Vendimia Riojana, held in Rioja DOC, aka Logroño,  since the 12th century - so it must be a pretty good gig by now!

Although in southern Spain harvest time can be much earlier, depending on weather conditions elsewhere in the country, the harvest time for winemakers usually falls between August and October. This has become a ritual of activity, not only for the people involved in wine making, but also for families and wine lovers alike. A typical vendimia festival can last from several days to a week, wherein local dance, music, gastronomy and wines are all enjoyed to mark the harvest time. Many winemakers also offer open doors on certain dates, so you are welcome to visit the wineries. For DOC La Rioja, the San Mateo vendimia runs from September 16th until the 22nd. Its food and wine tastings, the traditional foot crushing of grapes, plus a multitude of concerts, fireworks and religious offerings all serve to give thanks for a healthy harvest of Rioja wines.

Other notable wine harvest festivals take place in Rueda DO, Ribera del Duero DO, Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia. Or, closer to Barcelona, there’s Alella DO, the Poboleda Festa del Vi i la Verema a l’Antiga in Prioraat DOQ and many more harvest happenings in Penedès DO - which is home to the cava capital of Sant Sadurni D’Anoia.

So, whatever your wine preferences, you are guaranteed to find the right vendimia harvest festival to celebrate good life and the vine. In vino, veritas!