Travel Tips for Mendoza´s Vendimia

Mendoza´s Annual Vendimia Festival is cause for hundreds of thousands of travelers and wine lovers worldwide to make their pilgrimage to this humble Andean town, for one purpose only – to celebrate the harvest of the grapes.  In homage to the tiny fruit that gave life to what is now a booming wine industry, Mendoza province plays host to a festival that runs from January to March.

The festival´s finale comes in the form of a Las Vegas style show held in the open-air Frank Romero Day Amphitheater in the mountains.  It is known as the Acto Central, the main event, and is put together by over a thousand dancers, musicians, performers and stage crew.

For travelers looking to visit Mendoza in February or March, the Vendimia Festival is certainly something to schedule trips around.  Numerous festivities will be held the first week of March, but the main event itself will run March 8-11.

Here are some travel tips to follow if you´re planning to join in the Vendimia celebrations:

How to Get Vendimia Tickets:

Local travel agencies often sell Vendimia as a package experience that includes transportation, tickets to the Acto Central, and libations along the way.  For non-resident foreigners, buying through an agency is almost a necessity.

But if you´re around in mid-February, the other option is to wait in lines along with all the locals to snag the highly coveted tickets.  For a complete list of ticket sales points, visit the Vendimia Facebook page.

What will I pay?:

If you buy tickets directly you can expect to pay 40-180 pesos for the first night of the Acto Central and 40-100 pesos for the repetitions, depending on seating section.  Seating sections are named after grape varieties, including Malbec (right up front), Tempranillo, Cabernet, Chardonnay & Bonarda (the cheap seats).

Or, if you´re looking to attend the show without spending a single peso, you can join the thousands of locals who climb into the hilltops behind the theater and watch the show with a bird´s eye view.  It would be more of a rustic adventure than a glamorous experience, but it´s always good to know your options.

Outside the theater, food & drink vendors set up a mini walking mall of booths, so keep a few pesos on hand for last-minute purchases, in case the mood strikes you.

What to Bring:

Because the Frank Romero Day Greek Amphitheater is located in the Andes foothills, expect the weather to turn chilly as the night progresses.  It´s best to dress in layers, and bring a long-sleeved something to keep you comfortable.

Besides the weather, the most important factor you´ll have to plan for is how to survive long hours sitting on nothing more than a hard slab of concrete.

Check you packing list before heading for the hills:

• Vendimia ticket
• Layers of clothing
• Camera
• Water bottle (or wine) & snacks
• Small bag or backpack that is well-secured
• Something cushy to sit on

What to Expect:

Parking is limited and crowds are massive.  If you´re planning to drive, arriving early is highly recommended.  Back into your parking space so that you can make a clean getaway when the time comes.

Because seating within certain sections is not numbered, you can expect festival attendees to arrive up to 5 hours early.  They´ll stake out their seats, set up a picnic, and hunker down for the long wait until the show begins.  But if that´s not your cup of tea, arrive just a couple hours early – you´ll still enjoy a great view.

The Acto Central consists of 3 parts.  The first is a Las Vegas style dance/music/acting extravaganza, which is followed by a spectacular fireworks display and the night ends with a live music concert.  Music artists vary according to each night of the performance, so you´ll want to stay tuned to see who is on the docket.

If you´re planning to attend the first night of the show, you can also expect to see the voting and coronation of the 2014 Vendimia Queen.  Though it´s certainly an exciting spectacle, the night can feel a little long as each vote is being read.  For that reason, many visitors opt for the repetitions (the last 3 nights), which still contain all the same elements, sans beauty pageant.

A Note on Security:

Given that Mendoza´s Vendimia Festival attracts travelers from all over the world, the city amps up security and policeman and event staff are stationed throughout the theater.  However, the shuffling crowds can turn it into a pickpocket´s playground.  Take special care to make sure your belongings are always with you, close to your body, and zipped or buckled when possible.

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