Imagine wandering through ancient vineyards and historic towns, each festival offering a unique blend of tradition, laughter, and the exquisite flavours of Spanish wines. From the vibrant energy of La Rioja to the sun-kissed landscapes of Andalusia, these festivals are more than just events; they're a heartfelt invitation to connect with the local heritage, savour every drop of world-renowned varietals, and create unforgettable memories. This guide is your companion to the most joyous wine festivities Spain has to offer, where each glass tells a tale of passion, community, and the simple pleasures of life.
October
Sitges Wine Harvest Festival
Sitges, Spain, 29 September to early October 2024
Sitges is a small town in Catalonia, Spain, next to Barcelona. It is known as one of the most beautiful towns in the Mediterranean. Sitges celebrates its wine harvest festival every year on the first weekend of October. The most famous traditions at this festival are the “vine-cutting ceremony”, also Grape pressing and barrel carrying contests. Wine Harvest Festival, or “La Festa de la Verema” in Catalan, has been celebrated since 1961, and it features live music, wine tasting, and food stalls. Some of the best wines from Pendes region, coming from some top vineyards like Torres, are presented. The festival also features a parade of floats and costumed characters. The events are scheduled for the whole weekend, starting from 10 am till 7 pm. This festival is a great way to have fun, taste the best regional wine and food and get familiar with the Catalan winemaking culture.
Photo credit: utopia villas
Rueda Grape Harvest Festival
Valladolid, Spain, October 2024
Rueda Grape Harvest Festival is celebrated in Valladolid, an autonomous community of Castile and Leon, every year, since 1990, at the second weekend of October. The wine from Rueda's Denomination of Origin is very popular and is an absolute must-stop for every wine lover to appreciate their exquisite wine. It is estimated that millions of people from the entire world come to this festival every year, eager to taste wines and enjoy the grape-picking process at the event, which also coincides with the end of the harvest. The festival features wine and food fairs, including a gigantic paella tasting, exhibitions, concerts, workshops and many more. It is an excellent opportunity to discover the region delightfully.
Photo credit: DO Rueda
Cavatast - Cava tasting and Gastronomy fair
Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Catalonia, Spain, 6-7 October 2024
The Cavatast festival takes place in the Spanish capital of Cava, San Sadurnio de Anoia, in Parque Lluís Companys. During the three days of the festival, Sant Sadurni d'Anoia welcomes cava lovers from all over the world. Cavatast is a celebration of Cava - Catalan sparkling wine made the same way as champagne. It reunites Cava producers, and lovers of good wine and Spanish cuisine. Likewise, in the spotlight at Cavatast is the local cuisine. Cava, chocolate, and traditional Catalan cuisine are there for your delight! In addition to food and wine tastings, exhibitions, workshops and live music is what awaits you here in the Cava capital of the world.
Photo credit: el3devuit
Fiesta de la Vendimia de Cangas del Narcea
Asturias, Spain, October 2024
Every year, Cangas del Narcea hosts the Cangas Quality Wine Harvest Festival, which this year reaches its twentieth edition. Among other reasons, Cangas del Narcea is the only wine production area in Asturias, with a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages and with a type of mountain vineyards that make this viticulture a truly heroic activity; so it is really worth visiting. The festival takes place in mid-October, and it lasts for 4 days. The staging of the transport of the grape in a country car and the traditional grape treading are some of its main acts that are complemented by various activities; Such as tastings of PDO wines from Cangas, a market, craft stalls, the sale of traditional products, visits to wineries and Children attractions.
Photo credit: touspatous
November
International Sherry Week
Jerez, Spain, 4th November
International Sherry Week is an annual event that puts together wine enthusiasts, especially Sherry-lovers, to explore the different methods and taste the wide variety of flavours that Sherry offers. Various wine tastings are held, and you can even have a chance to go to a local vineyard for the day and learn how Sherry is made by the wine producers themselves. Therefore, this wine event in this dynamic and prominent region in the wine industry is simply unmissable.
Photo credit: lavozdelsur
Festival of Orujo
Santender, Spain, mid-November
The Festival of Orujo is held in the second week of November. It celebrates the locally produced strong liquor made in the small town of Potes, in Cantabria, Northern Spain. The festival’s creation dates back to 1984 and has become increasingly popular over the years. It celebrates this famous strong liquor, regional food, and other regional fares. The Orujo festival contains a variety of musical events and traditional folklore, including parades and street parties.
Photo credit: lacasadeframa
San Andres Festival
Tenerife, Spain, November
Tenerife is an immensely beautiful island of Spain, sun-soaked and tropical; no surprise they boast of having one of the best wines in the world. The San Andres festival takes place in Puerto de la Cruz, a town in Tenerife, every year at the end of November and features the tasting of new wine types and celebrates the annual grape harvest. This festival is a fun way to explore the region, and its local wines, visit the local wine shops, and join in this amusing tradition!
Photo credit: canarias
