There are over nine hundred wineries in Mendoza. That´s about one winery for every 89 people of the metropolitan area, and come February, each and every one of them will be gathering in celebrationof Vendimia, Mendoza’s largest festival. It´s a salute to harvest timewhen 150,000 hectares of vineyards are stripped of their fruit and a hopeful tradition symbolizing the prosperity of the year to come.
Vendimia was born in the 1600´s when the local population commemorated the annual harvest by blessing the grapes with thanks to their patron saint, and selecting the most beautiful young maiden to be their harvest queen. In 1936 the governor of Mendoza decreed it an official event. Since that time Festival de Vendimia continues to annually upstage itself. Queens are proudly showcased in a Miss Universe-style election, attended by roughly 40,000 cheering spectators. Glamorous parades fill the street and dozens of cultural celebrations of art, music and film are held. It’s a time when Mendoza is bubbling with big fun and big hopes. So, fill up your wine glass and empty your memory card; you’re about to experience Vendimia!
FEBRUARY:
Friday 5th. 20:30. Fiesta de la Vendimia de Tunuyán.
Venue: Teatro Municipal, Tunuyán.
Friday 5th-7th. 20:30. Festival Nacional de la Tonada. Weekend
musical festival in Tunuyán. Venue: Anfiteatro Ciudad de Tunuyán.
Saturday 6th. 20:00. Fiesta de la Vendimia de Luján.
Venue: Fediagro, Calle Aceso sur y Quintana.
Saturday 6th. Fiesta de la Vendimia de Gral. Alvear.
Friday 11th – 13th. 19:30. Americanto. Started at the end of the Dirty War in celebration of newfound democratic freedom, Americanto is celebration of choirs, soloists and bands singing their hearts out over three nights. Also featured is an audiovisual concert, poetry and dance. Venue: Prado Gaucho (PGSM), Parque General San Martín, Mendoza.
Friday 12th. Fiesta de la Vendimia de Guaymallén.
Saturday 13th. 22:00. Fiesta de la Vendimia de Maipú.
Venue: Polideportivo Municipal, Calle Emilio Civit and Maza.
Tuesday 16th-21st. 21:30. Semana Federal. Federal Week. An open-air presentation of the region´s music, art, food and wine.
Venue: Parque Civico, Mendoza.
Saturday 20th. Fiesta de la Vendimia de San Martín.
Saturday 20th. 22:00 Fiesta de la Vendimia de San Rafael.
Venue: Anfiteatro Chacho Santa Cruz, Parque H. Irigoyen.
Sunday 21st. 21:00. La Vendimia Cuenta Su Historia. Documentary of the History of Vendimia. Learn about the Vendimias of generations past, from 1936 onwards. Venue: Parque Central.
Thursday 25th-27th. Encuentro de Colectividades en la Estación. Cuisine samples and cultural performances from the foreign communities of Mendoza.
Venue: Estación Cultural Ciudad, Av. Las Herras y Villagonga.
Thursday 25th-27th. Megagustación De Vinos. Three days of wine tasting and wine-related activities. Venue: Boulevar Av. Belgrano.
Thursday 25th-26th. 20:00. 20 a 20. Twenty-four continuous hours of cultural activities in the various municipal spaces of Mendoza. Venue: Most of the museums, galleries and concert halls of the city, e.g. Museo del Área Fundacional Alberdi and Videla Castillo 5500.
Friday 26th. 21:30. Fiesta de la Vendimia de Mendoza City.
Venue: Plaza Independencia.
Saturday 27th-28th. Fiesta de la Fundación de Mendoza. 449th Anniversary of the Foundation of Mendoza. Celebrated with food, wine and shows. Venue: Plaza Pedro del Castillo.
Sunday 28th. 21:30. Benedición de las Frutas. Blessing of the Fruits. A key ceremony of Vendimia, this historical Catholic ritual involves blessing the grapes under the watchful eye of the patron saint, the Virgin of Carrodilla, before they are processed.
Venue: Parque Metropolitano Sur, Maipú.
MARCH:
Tuesday 2nd-4th. 20:30. Fiesta en la Piazza. The Italian community puts on a vibrant spread of food and culture. Venue: Plaza Italia
Friday 5th. 21:30. Via Blanca de las Reinas Parade. The festival kicks up a notch as the street fills with floats from which the Mendoza harvest pageant contestants woo the crowd with smiles, waves and kisses. Venue: Colón Street.
Friday 5th. 21:30. Noche de Musica en Vendimia. Vendimia Music Night. Outdoor mega-concert. Venue: Plaza Independencia.
Saturday 6th. 10:00. Carrusel. Another parade, with dazzeling pageant contestants, gallivanting gauchos and flashy papier-maché floats. Venue: Colón Street.
Saturday 6th. 21:30. Acto Central. Hours and hours (some would say too many hours) of choreography, lights, festive singing and the election of the Vendimia Queen. Stick around for the magnificent fireworks show afterwards. Tickets should be bought well in
advance from branches of Banco Regional de Cuyo Supervielle, e.g. Casa Central Mendoza, Mendoza Plaza Shopping Centre, Acc. Este 3280 Guaymallén. Tickets range from $120 to $20 pesos, depending on where you sit. Venue: Teatro Griego Frank Romero Day, Parque General San Martin.
Saturday 6th. Gay Vendimia´s 15th Year Celebration. Dive into the sparkly world of drag to witness another tongue-in-cheek crowning and shake your booty to world renowned DJ’s. Venue: Angel Bustelo Auditorium, Virgen del Carmen de Cuyo 610.
Sunday March 7th. 21:30. Segunda Noche. A shortened Vendimia performance is repeated for those of you who missed the Acto Central. Again, buy tickets in advance from a branch of Banco Regional de Cuyo Supervielle. Prices range from $10 to $30 pesos. Venue: Teatro Griego Frank Romero Day, Parque General San Martin.
Monday March 8th. 21:30. Tercera Noche. A third chance to watch the Vendimia performance. See above for ticket prices. Venue: Teatro Griego Frank Romero Day, Parque General San Martin.
Wednesday 17th. St. Patrick´s Day Party. Down some Guinness and discover your inner Irishman (or woman) at the best Irish pub in town. Venue: Believe Irish Bar, Colón 241.
