Grape Harvest Festivals in Jerez and Logroño: wine, land and celebration!

The first Jerez Grape Harvest Festival took place in 1948. It was the brainchild of local intellectuals, winegrowers and wine lovers who wanted to celebrate the harvest when the grapes reach their peak and honor wine culture.

During a period of social reconstruction in the 20th century, when regional identities were being reaffirmed, the festival encapsulated the desire to transform an agricultural trade into living heritage, bringing the ritual from the countryside to the city and showing the process from vine to glass.

From the beginning, the “grape treading”, folk songs and first public tastings served as a platform to showcase and celebrate the expertise of Jerez.

Since then, the festival has grown to become a major event, attracting national and international tourists. In 1980, it was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. This recognition has led to an expansion of the program, and today the Jerez harvest combines ritual and celebration with a wide range of cultural offerings.

These include flamenco, a form of art inseparable from the region; music ranging from local groups to open-air concerts; theatre and street performances incorporating stories about the vineyard and the memory of the workers; as well as puppet shows and children’s activities, ensuring the festival is intergenerational.

This variety of offerings means that the harvest is not just a day centered around wine, but a cultural platform where tradition and contemporary creation dialogue with each other.

The celebration of the grape harvest in Logroño has a long history: its roots go back to medieval fairs and markets, which turned the town into a commercial hub for livestock fairs, agricultural bartering and merchant gatherings throughout the region from the Middle Ages onwards. Over time, the popular harvest festival was incorporated. This dual nature of market and festival explains why the wine-growing and urban worlds converge in the city every September.

These celebrations now coincide with the Fiestas de San Mateo on September 21 and have been known as the “Fiestas de la Vendimia” (Grape Harvest Festival) since the mid-20th century, due to their proximity to the start of the grape harvest in La Rioja.

This rural-commercial origin is preserved in simple gestures that encapsulate centuries of collective life. The treading of the grapes and the offering of the first must to the Virgin of Valvanera symbolize the presentation of the fruit and the request for a blessing for the harvest.

Celebrated in front of the public, the treading functions as a founding ritual, bringing together selected grape pickers, clubs and associations, and symbolising the transition from the countryside to the city, and from the vine to the glass. The offering, for its part, highlights the communal and devotional aspects that accompany the grape harvest in La Rioja.

During the festive week, rural tradition coexists with colourful urban events, including parades of floats, street parades, open-air dances and the active presence of peñas (social clubs). Echoes of the old trade can also be seen in local produce markets, gastronomic competitions and fairs, which reinterpret the commercial function of yesteryear as a cultural and tourist offering for residents and visitors alike.

Both regions have a close link with wine, not only as a drink, but also as part of the landscape, art, history and way of life.

The Marco de Jerez vineyards have been shaped by multiple cultures, including the Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs, who introduced techniques, varieties and flavors. The quality of the grapes is influenced by the terrain, climate, maritime influence, breezes and light.

In La Rioja, the vineyards cover hillsides and gentle slopes with varied soils. The harvest begins in the lower areas of Rioja Baja and moves upwards as the grapes ripen.

In Jerez, the Designation of Origin (DO) “Jerez-Xérès-Sherry / Marco de Jerez” is one of the most emblematic expressions of Spanish wine. This region is renowned for its fortified wines, such as fino, oloroso and amontillado, as well as its distinctive brandy and sherry vinegar.

The local winemaking tradition has perfected unique techniques such as aging under a veil of flor and the solera system, which give these wines their unmistakable character and extraordinary longevity.

The Rioja Designation of Origin is one of the most prestigious in Spain and internationally. Its territory is divided into three sub-zones — Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja) — each with its own characteristics reflected in the profile of its wines.

The diversity of varieties and styles, ranging from whites and rosés to crianza and reserva reds, is greatly influenced by factors such as soil type, climate, and vineyard location. This results in a richness of nuances that defines Rioja’s unique identity.

Spain is one of the world’s leading wine exporters, with Jerez and Rioja enjoying an established reputation. Harvest festivals also serve as a showcase, presenting the world with the vineyards and wineries and promoting the culture. Wine is not only an agricultural product, but also a driver of tourism and gastronomy. For example, Jerez aims to strengthen its international profile this year with festivals such as this one.

If you are planning a trip to attend these festivals, here are some of the most memorable experiences you can have:

There are two key moments: in Jerez, the “Pisa de la Uva” ceremony marks the start of the festivities.

Meanwhile, in Logroño, a very festive version of grape treading takes place in the Plaza del Espolón. The first grapes are also kept for offering to the Virgin of Valvanera.

Both Jerez and Logroño organise various tastings, including masterclasses, informal sessions, pairings with local cuisine and presentations of fresh must. You can also visit wineries and enjoy tastings. This is an excellent opportunity to compare styles, such as aged wines, fortified wines from Jerez, red wines from Rioja and white wines.

Floats, folk parades, live music, dance troupes, clubs and neighbourhood events. In Logroño, clubs set up “chamizos” (festive spaces where people can share wine, food and atmosphere) and fill them with music and local flavor.

In addition to flamenco, Jerez offers theatrical performances, puppets, art exhibitions, music and food fairs.

You can visit not just from the outside, but many wineries also open their doors and offer tours where they explain the harvest, aging, crianza, solera and oxidative aging processes, among other things. Being among the vines, seeing the work in the fields and smelling the barrels is a complete sensory experience.

Tapas, regional dishes and farm produce. In Jerez, you can enjoy Cádiz cuisine accompanied by wine. In Rioja, you can enjoy traditional Riojan dishes, as well as sausages and cheeses with young or aged wine. Eating well is all part of the celebration.

Enjoy concerts and music in the squares, the lively bar atmosphere, strolling and sunset walks through the nearby vineyards or viewpoints. You can also see the wine-growing landscape at sunrise or sunset.

In both Jerez and Logroño, the grape harvest is celebrated as a complete cultural experience. In Jerez, wine is combined with flamenco, horses and art in a festival that reflects the local identity. Logroño’s San Mateo festivities transform the city into a huge stage, offering everything from concerts to traditions such as the presentation of the first must, the Wine Fountain, and the Burning of the Vat. These events are accompanied by the symbolic firing of a rocket and the crowning of the senior grape pickers.

Wear comfortable clothes and suitable footwear if you are going to be treading grapes or visiting vineyards.

Bring sunscreen if you are going to be outdoors for long periods in September.

Check the official festival calendar for your travel dates as these may vary slightly from year to year.

Learn a few wine-related words such as: must, aging, barrel, oxidative aging, flor and coupage to enjoy the explanations in the wineries even more.

If possible, plan a combined getaway including vineyards, nearby villages, wine museums and local cuisine.

The harvest festivals in Jerez and Logroño create lasting memories: the aroma of grapes, the sound of barrels, lively conversations over toasts, moonlit nights and shared glasses. They are journeys to the origin, to the vineyard, to the flavor; journeys of encountering the old and the new, the rural and the festive.

If you’re looking for more than just postcards, if you’re looking for culture, flavor, movement and authenticity, there’s no better time than September and no better places than these two wine-growing corners of Spain.