Harvest time in La Rioja

September is Harvest Month in La Rioja, one of the most emblematic and celebrated moments in our community, marked by the culture of wine and its cultivation. An ideal time to stay in our Boutique Hotel Santa María Briones taking advantage of the movement and activity in our fields, the life in our streets and the celebrations that are held throughout the community around one of the most important moments for the production of our wines. La Rioja is, after all, one of the most important wine regions in the world.

This month marks the end of the vine cycle and the beginning of the grape harvest. Throughout September, the grape harvest becomes a true cultural festival that combines tradition, work in the vineyards, and various celebrations around wine.

Duration and time of harvest

The grape harvest month in La Rioja usually begins at the end of September and can extend until early November, depending on several factors, such as weather conditions and the ripening of the grapes. Although the grape harvest itself takes place in specific weeks, the related celebrations and activities usually span a full month.

Grape Harvest Process

1. Preparation: Prior to harvest, the grape growers closely monitor the ripening of the grapes. Quality controls are carried out to determine the optimum time for harvesting, evaluating factors such as sugar level, acidity and tannins.
2. Grape harvesting: Grapes can be harvested manually or mechanized. Hand harvesting, although more laborious, is preferred in many high quality wineries, as it allows a more careful selection of the clusters. The grape harvesters collect the grapes in baskets or small boxes to avoid crushing and then transport them to the winery.
3. Transport and Pressing: Once in the winery, the grapes are quickly transported to the pressing area to avoid oxidation. The must (grape juice) is extracted through a pressing process, and from here fermentation begins, the first step in the transformation of the must into wine.
4. Fermentation and Aging: After pressing, the must ferments in stainless steel or wooden tanks. Subsequently, the resulting wine can be aged in oak barrels, where it will acquire its final characteristics.

Traditions and celebrations

Harvest Month is not only a period of work in the vineyards, but also a festive time that involves the entire community.

1. Grape Harvest Festival: The festivities begin with the “Fiesta de la Vendimia Riojana”, which is celebrated on September 21 in Logroño, coinciding with the festivities of San Mateo, the patron saint of the city. This event includes a traditional treading of grapes in the Plaza del Espolón, where the first grape juice of the season is collected and offered to the Virgen de Valvanera, patron saint of La Rioja.
2. Processions and Pilgrimages: During this period, processions and pilgrimages are held in honor of San Mateo and other religious figures, combining devotion with the celebration of the harvest.
3. Cultural Activities: Throughout the month, cultural events and popular festivals such as concerts, exhibitions, and wine-related contests are organized. There are also wine tastings, guided visits to wineries and vineyards, and workshops where you can learn about the winemaking process.
4. Meals and Tastings: Gastronomy plays a fundamental role during the grape harvest. Popular meals are organized where typical dishes of the region are served, accompanied, of course, by the best wines of the previous harvest. In our restaurants you can also enjoy two different proposals, a gourmet reinterpretation of Riojan gastronomy at Allegar and the purity of our most traditional cuisine at El Calado.
5. Public participation: Many wineries open their doors to the public, offering the possibility of participating in the grape harvest, from picking the grapes to crushing them. This allows visitors to experience the grape harvest first hand.

The grape harvest has a profound cultural value, keeping alive ancestral traditions and reinforcing the identity of La Rioja.

Harvest Month in La Rioja is, in short, a period in which hard work is combined with celebration, the past with the present, and tradition with modernity, making this a unique time to visit and get to know this wine region in depth.

At Santa María Briones we are passionate about the local culture, a land full of life, wine and passion, and we encourage wine tourism by providing our guests through our blog with the necessary information and arrangements to organize their trip to La Rioja and visit the wineries in the area.

And no matter how much we tell you about the experience in Santa María Briones, nothing is comparable to living it yourself. We are waiting for you!

For more information and reservations:
reservas@santamariabriones.com
+ 34 941 991 599

+ 34 623 481 218