Harvesting the grapes
The Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia is one of Argentina’s most important and largest festivals. It originally marks the end of the grape harvest and it is a month long crescendo of colour and festivities. It starts with the Archbishop of Mendoza quietly sprinkling holy water on the year’s first grapes. It then slowly builds across the province as each of Mendoza’s regions celebrates their own mini-Vendimia and chooses their individual queen. Finally on the first Saturday of March it all culminates in Mendoza city in an explosion of bacchanalian festivities.
The vendimia parade through the streets of Mendoza
They have built a vast amphitheatre specially for the celebrations which involves hundreds of dancers, singers and other performers. It briefly goes quiet at midnight while they choose the queen of Vendimia and then the sky lights up in a fantastic fireworks display.
The Amphitheatre, especially built for the Vendimia’s final night
