Mendoza Vendimia 2014 Calendar

In case you haven´t already heard through the grapevine, every year Mendoza, Argentina hosts one very special extended homage to the tiny fruit that everyone loves.  In simple terms, Vendimia is the celebration of the grape harvest.  It takes place over several months, as each of the 18 departments in Mendoza province host fiestas and select their beauty queens who will later compete for the title of Reina de la Vendimia. The first Mendoza Vendimia festivities can be traced all the way back to the 17th Century, but the first offical Vendimia Festival – an echo of what it is today – took place in 1936.  Today it has grown to incorporate over one-thousand musicians and performers, and has aquired all the bells and whistles typical of a world-class show.  With that in mind, it should come as no surprise to find Mendoza´s Vendimia ranking high on National Geographic´s list of Tip 10 Harvest Festivals. Though the celebrations and libations go on for months, the Festival culminates the first week of March.  Now, with Vendimia only weeks away, wine lovers in Mendoza are losing more sleep than usual.  After all, with a schedule of events encompassing everything from a fruit-flinging city-wide parades to live music in the park, “staying in” for the night is simply not an option. Here´s a preview of the 2014 Vendimia calendar of events:

• March 1, 9 PM: Young Vendimia, in the Julio Le Parc Cultural Center
• March 2, 9 PM: Blessing of the Fruit, in the Prado Gaucho area of San Martin Park
  • In gratitude for the harvest of all of Mendoza´s agricultural products, a live choir concert and catholic blessing will be held in the city´s most celebrated green space.
• March 3, 8 PM: Vendimia Queen’s Ball, in the Julio Le Parc Cultural Center
• March 4, 9 PM: Vendimia Food & Wine Celebration in the Hotel Arena, Maipu
• March 5, 9 PM: Harvest Festival, at the Francisco Gabrielli Airport
• March 7, 9 PM: Via Blanca Queen’s Parade, winding through the downtown area of Mendoza City
  • 18 floats carry the Vendimia Queens through the winding streets of Mendoza city as they throw fruits and treats out into the crowds of onlookers.
• March 8, 10 PM: El Carrusel de las Reinas and the final Vendimia Show (Acto Central)
  • Once again the Vendimia Queens parade the streets with upwards of 250,000 onlookers.  Though the parade is similar to the Vía Blanca of the night before, it has a slightly more traditional undertone: featuring gauchos on horseback, folklore dancers and more.  The Vendimia Show features over 1,000 dancers and actors and draws in a crowd of over 25,000.  The spectacle is held in the open air Frank Romero Day Amphitheater in the foothills of the Andes, and is followed by a spectacular fireworks show and music concert.
• March 9-11, 9 PM: Repetitions of the Acto Central
  • If you’re not in the mood to sit through a lengthy voting process and coronation of the Vendimia Queen, the repetitions of the Vendimia show are the most recommended option.  You´ll still take in all the wonder, but suffer through less time sitting on a cement step.

If you´re thinking of visiting Mendoza and joining in on Vendimia festivities, stay tuned for our Vendimia travel tips! _____________________________________________________________________________________ Our team of highly passionate, skilled trip planners wants to get to know you so we can construct the perfect getaway.  We pull from our large network of local winemakers, adventurers, chefs, artists and more to introduce you to a side of Mendoza, Argentina that you won’t see with any other tour agency. Ready to get started?  Tell us who you are and what you love – and we’ll use that to build your perfect trip!  Click here to get started!