With the months of September and October the autumn is coming, and with it the time of the grape harvest in Spain. This season is celebrated traditionally with many wine and harvest festivals throughout the Spanish wine regions and even more wineries open their doors to public. Especially in this season, the Spanish wine regions offer numerous possibilities to experience the Spanish wine culture!

vineyards in Catalonia

Festivals

Many of the Spanish wine regions celebrate the season of grape harvesting with the so-called “Fiesta de la Vendimia”, the grape harvest festival. Part of the festivals are activities such as the traditional grape treading, the tasting of the first must, contests and folkloric dances. Some major grape harvest festivals are celebrated in Rioja Alavesa, Logroño, Burgos and Jerez, where the whole city or region participates in the activities for several days.

Special wineries

There are many wineries in Spain, but some of them deserve special mentioning, due to unique features or a specific focus. one of the most famous wineries in La Rioja area is Marqués de Riscal, which is one of the oldest wineries in the region, but features a modern building, designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry. The combination of architecture and oenology can also be found in other wineries, like Bodegas Baigorri, Bodegas Ysios or Bodegas Sommos that were also designed by renowned architects and are real works of art.

Marqués de Riscal, Elciego, Rioja Alavesa

Another aspect that often is focused is the ecological one. Wineries like Parés Baltà, Bodegas Aroa and Bodega Adrada Ecológica pay special attention to the ecologic and biodynamic cultivation of grapes and elaboration of wines. Most of the wineries offer visits, where you can explore the vineyards and cellars and find out more about the wine making process.

Wine tastings and gastronomy

If you decide to visit a winery, it could be a good idea to combine the visit with a wine tasting. Normally, the wineries offer combined visits, where you can taste the wine that is produced there, after the tour through the winery. Some wineries created even more differentiated tastings, combining the savouring of wine with local products as cheese, ham, chocolate or olive oil.

wine and ham tasting

(photo source: Catalunya Convention Bureau)