Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia

FIESTA NACIONAL DE LA VENDIMIA

In 2019, from Monday 25 February to Monday 11 March will take place in the city of Mendoza, the National Grape Harvest Festival of Argentina. The most important event in the city. A show with marvelous artistic spectacle of dance, lights and music.

Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (The Grape Harvest National Festival) takes place annually in Mendoza City, Argentina. It is one of the most important festivals in the country, attracting large numbers of tourists to the region. It is a celebration of wine and the winemaking industry.

Each of the 18 departments in Mendoza Province prepare for the festival in the early months of the year. The main event occurs in the first week of March in Mendoza city featuring hundreds of dancers and performers, the selection of a "Reina Nacional de la Vendimia" (National Vendimia Queen) and a large fireworks display.

So significant is the National Grape Harvest Festival in Argentina that at its grand ceremony in the Greek Theater, more than 20,000 people attend and among the invitees one can find the most important national cultural, sport, political, cinematic and television personalities, as well as diplomatic representatives from a great number of other countries.

HISTORY

The first vendimia celebrations in Mendoza Province occurred in the 17th Century. The first official Vendimia festival took place in 1936. Recently Mendoza's Vendimia ranked number two in National Geographic's Top 10 World's Harvest Festivals, after the Thanksgiving celebrations in Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts.

THE DEPARTAMENTAL FESTIVALS

Each of the 18 departments that comprise the Mendoza province holds its own grape harvest festivities between the months of December and February for choosing their queen. 

The festivities are comprised of folk shows, Creole craftsmanship and preparation of traditional food. 

One of these regional candidates (with the exception of the Mendoza city Queen, who is the hostess and does not participate in the election) will be crowned the new national Queen of the Grape Harvest in an election ceremony that takes place during the Central Act in the Frank Romero Greek Theater.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

• Bendición de los frutos (Blessing of the fruit)

The blessing of the fruit takes place on the last Sunday of February.

During this religious ceremony the Gods are thanked for the fruits that have been harvested. It is presided by the Archbishop of Mendoza together with the image of the “Patron of the Vineyards”, the Virgin of the Carrodilla.

For his part, the Governor of the Mendoza Province carries out an ancient ritual, the "The hit against the grates of the plough" which in the past was called the laborer’s rest.

• Vía Blanca de las Reinas (Queens White Way)

On the evening of the first Friday of March the prettiest women elected as Reinas (queens) from each department parade in allegoric chariots through the streets of Mendoza dressed in decorative outfits designed to celebrate the winemaking tradition and the character of their Departments. This event has been known to attract over 200,000 spectators.

The Via Blanca de las Reinas is a grand parade that takes place in the main streets and avenues of the city of Mendoza. In this parade each department presents its Queen on a float decorated with grape harvest motifs and representations of landscape characteristics of its department. The event commences with a float which transports the Queen and Vicereine who are departing the throne, followed by floats carrying Queens of the other most popular Argentine festivals and finally with the

passage of the queens of each department - the candidates for the new Queen of the National Grape Harvest Festival.The parade, of about two hours in duration, is watched by more than 200,000 people that gather in the streets admiring the beautiful candidates, and enjoying the attractive floats and music which accompany their passage.

• Carrusel Vendimial (Harvest Carousel)

The Carrusel de Vendimia takes place during the morning hours of the first Saturday in March in the main streets and avenues of the city of Mendoza. It is a parade with the same participants of the “Via Blanca” parade, and in addition includes groups of gauchos (Argentine cowboys) dressed in their typical wear accompanied by with their horses pulling carriages made from wood and leather reminding us of the style of the Mendoza colonial days. 

Also among the participants of the Carrousel are communities from other countries that reside in Mendoza displaying their traditional dress.

The objective of this parade is to show the present generation the passage of time in our province and its great progress, which is the product of the work and efforts of every town.
And like during the previous night, some 200,000 people get together to enjoy the event that ends around noon.

• Acto Central (Central Act)

The Central Act at the Greek Theater in the General San Martin Park of Mendoza city is the great finale for the Grape Harvest Festival.

It is a spectacular show of dances, artistic representations and light & sound in which some 1,000 actors and dancers participate in a gigantic finale.

Although year after year the show is renewed, it always maintains the same idea representing Mendoza’s past and present, the work of the towns in an arid land that has been converted into a great oasis and, of course, the wine, all the result of a such superb effort.

Continuing with the election and coronation of the National Grape Harvest Queen and culminating at midnight with a stunning exhibition of music, color, figures projected in the sky with lasers and fireworks that for more than 20 minutes illuminate the entire Greek Theatre while accompanied by selected music.  This entire show is witnessed by some 20,000 people comfortably seated in the Frank Romero Day and by more than 50,000 people that gather in the surrounding hills of the Greek Theater.

PHOTO GALLERY

SOURCE:

https://www.daytours4u.com/en/travel-guide/2/grape-harvest-festival-mendoza/

https://www.welcomeargentina.com/mendoza/grape-harvest-festival.html

http://www.mendozawinetoursandtravel.com/national-grape-harvest-festival-argentina.htm

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesta_Nacional_de_la_Vendimia

http://www.prensa.mendoza.gov.ar/vendimia-2019-fechas-y-precios-de-entradas/