The Grape Harvest Festival, the main autumn celebration in La Rioja, begins in Logroño

From 20 to 26 September, Logroño, the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, will host the main autumn festival of the wine region, the Grape Harvest Festival. The Festival of San Mateo is named after the city’s patron saint. The fun lasts for a whole week, with the most important events taking place on 21 September, the Day of San Mateo.

The Rioja Grape Harvest Festival has the status of a Festival of National Tourist Interest. It has been held in Logroño since the 12th century and has gained many interesting traditions. The most famous of these is called Pisado de la Uva, which involves crushing grapes with bare feet in a large vat to make must, the first stage of winemaking. This event usually takes place on the second day of the festival at Plaza de Espolón. The first must is offered to the Virgin of Valvanera, the patron saint of La Rioja.

The programme of the festival is very intense — parades, religious processions, gastronomic and wine tastings, concerts, theatrical performances, traditional folk dances, exhibitions, competitions, fireworks and, of course, bullfights.

The celebrations continue into the evening, with the three most famous streets of Logroño — Calle San Agustín, Calle Laurel, and Calle San Juan — becoming the epicentre. You can find out more about all the planned events on the Logroño City Council website.

We also recommend reading our articles: «Guide to Logrono — the gastronomic center of La Rioja» and «Guide to La Rioja — wine region of Spain».

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Photo from laprensadelrioja.com