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Spain’s Top Wine Harvest Festivals to Attend in Fall 2025

Ultimate Guide to the best Grape Harvest Festivals in Spain

 

Sip bold reds during Ribera del Duero Wine Harvest Festival, crush grapes barefoot at Priorat Old Fashioned Grape Harvest Festival or dance flamenco at the lively Andalusian Sherry Wine Festival in Jerez. Spain’s wine harvest festivals (fiestas de la vendimia) offer unforgettable experiences steeped in history, flavor, and local charm.

At Gourmand Breaks, we specialize in immersive wine tours that connect travelers with Spain’s finest regions, and many of our guests return year after year for these unique harvest celebrations. 

Here are three of the most captivating Spanish wine festivals that belong on every oenophile’s bucket list:

Old Fashioned Grape Harvest Festival in Poboleda, Priorat: A Harvest Festival Steeped in Soul

Fiesta de la Vendimia a la Antigua
Priorat, Catalonia | First Saturday in September

In the dramatic, slate-lined hills of Priorat, some of Spain’s most prestigious wines are born – crafted from old-vine Garnacha and Carinyena grown on steep llicorella terraces.

At the Fiesta de la Vendimia a la Antigua, tradition takes center stage. Visitors gather at sunrise to hand-pick grapes the old-fashioned way, joining locals in honoring the hard work and history behind each bottle.

Later, villagers celebrate with a rustic Catalan breakfast and grape-stomping rituals in wooden vats, live music echoing through stone streets, and artisan markets filled with regional specialties like escalivada and botifarra.

Why attend?
– Participate in ancestral winemaking techniques
– Taste robust, mineral-rich Priorat wines on their native soil
– Enjoy authentic Catalan hospitality, far from the tourist trail

Sip bold reds during Ribera del Duero Wine Harvest Festival: A Red Wine Lover’s Dream

Gran Fiesta de la Vendimia
Aranda de Duero, Castilla y León | Late September

This historic region, home to world-renowned wineries like Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Emilio Moro, Pago de los Capellanes, Prado Rey etc. throws one of Spain’s most dynamic wine harvest parties.

The Gran Fiesta de la Vendimia transforms Aranda de Duero into a celebration of red wine, music, and local gastronomy. Expect lively grape treading, folk performances, wine tastings in the streets, and exclusive harvest experiences at surrounding bodegas.

Some, like Finca Villacreces, even offer creative workshops like Paint & Sip in the vineyard, blending art with oenology.

Why attend?
– Discover Spain’s premier red wine region at its festive peak
– Taste powerful Tempranillos with Castilian culinary pairings
– Explore ancient monasteries and participate in hands-on vineyard experiences

Dance flamenco at the lively Andalusian wine festival in Jerez: Enjoy Sherry, Flamenco, and Andalusian Grace

Fiesta de la Vendimia de Jerez
Jerez, Andalusia | Late August to Mid-September

In the sunlit city of Jerez de la Frontera, the sherry capital of the world, the grape harvest is honored with weeks of celebration. The festival begins with the Pisa de la Uva, a symbolic grape-stomping ceremony on the cathedral steps, followed by flamenco shows, equestrian parades, and immersive visits to legendary bodegas like González Byass and Bodegas Tradición.

Visitors can enjoy exclusive sherry tastings, blending workshops, and food pairings featuring Andalusian tapas, olives, and seafood. It’s a full-bodied immersion into the heritage and elegance of southern Spain.

Why attend?
– Learn the secrets behind Fino, Amontillado, and Pedro Ximénez
– Pair sherry with iconic Andalusian cuisine
– Experience authentic cultural traditions in a magical setting

More Than a Festival: A Journey Through Spain’s Wine Soul

Each vendimia celebration is an invitation, to step into the vineyard, connect with winemakers, and understand the deep ties between the land, its people, and the wines they produce.

At Gourmand Breaks, we offer custom-designed wine tours in Spain, perfectly timed to coincide with the harvest. From private tastings in medieval cellars to al fresco lunches amid the vines, we craft authentic, enriching experiences for curious travelers.

Explore our curated wine itineraries and plan your harvest adventure today – Book a wine tour in Spain with Gourmand Breaks

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Calici di Stelle 2025 Tuscany – Wine & Stargazing in Italy this August

Our guests love the Italian wine regions and in summer they can be enjoyed differently – under the stars! From July 25 to August 24, 2025, towns, vineyards, and hilltop piazzas across Italy come alive for Calici di Stelle, a countrywide celebration of summer evenings, regional wines, and starlit skies.

Organized by the Movimento Turismo del Vino and the Associazione Città del Vino, this annual event blends open-air tastings, live music, and local cuisine with guided astronomical observation – inviting visitors to slow down and savor Italian wine country at its most enchanting.

Key Locations for 2025

🌟 Montepulciano (Tuscany)

Main event night: August 10, 2025 (St. Lawrence’s Night)

Montepulciano offers one of the most iconic settings: a candlelit evening in the historic center, where the town’s celebrated Vino Nobile is poured alongside live music, street performances, and gourmet food stalls. The stone streets, panoramic terraces, and golden twilight make for a truly cinematic experience.

🌿 Other Tuscan Towns

Tuscany hosts dozens of smaller events in late July and early August, from Greve in Chianti to Arezzo, Roselle, and Castiglion Fiorentino. Many take place in vineyard courtyards, historic gardens, or rustic farmhouses, with intimate tastings, curated food pairings, and acoustic music.

🍇 Abruzzo

Wineries across Abruzzo open their doors throughout the month, offering relaxed evening tastings, guided walks, and open-air concerts. This region is a hidden gem for those looking to discover lesser-known appellations in a laid-back setting.

🏞 Veneto & Lombardy

Bassano del Grappa (July 31) and Sondrio (August 10) host open-air tasting routes through historic town centers. Expect live jazz, small bites, and telescopes set up for visitors to explore the night sky between pours.

🍕 2025 Theme: “Pizza & Wine”

This year’s edition features a national partnership with the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, celebrating Italy’s most beloved food. Expect events dedicated to the art of pizza-making and the joy of pairing different styles with regional wines – from crisp whites to bold reds.

Whether it’s a Margherita and a glass of Chianti, or something more unexpected, the theme encourages playful, unfussy enjoyment of Italy’s culinary traditions.

✨ Why It’s Worth Experiencing

Calici di Stelle is not just about wine – it’s about atmosphere. It’s about the warm stillness of an August night, the distant sound of music, the scent of vineyards in the air, and the shared ritual of raising a glass beneath the stars.

Whether you’re deep in the Tuscan countryside, wandering through a northern hill town, or discovering a new favorite in southern Italy, this is a celebration of summer at its most evocative.

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The best food in Italy – Parma & Bologna in Emilia Romagna

For a true Italian food lover, Parma and Bologna are gourmet bliss! Ever tried real Parma ham? Authentic Parmesan cheese? What about that sweet and viscous salad dressing of balsamic vinegar of Modena? Without doubt you are sure to have eaten a version of `Bolognese’ sauce dressed over some delicious lasagna sheets, right? All of these wonderful Italian ingredients originate in Emilia Romagna, the region between the well-known cities of Milan (in Lombardy) and Florence (in Tuscany).

 

Why you must include Emilia Romagna on your next food and wine tour of Italy

Emilia Romagna is such a foodie haven, that its capital city Bologna, is known amongst Italians as `La Grassa’ (the fat one). We have Bologna to thank for what we English-speakers know as ‘Bolognese sauce’, a rich and thick tomato sauce with minced beef through it, sat atop (usually) spaghetti or tagliatelle pasta, or cooked into a lasagna. The perfect way to warm up on a cold winter’s day! When it comes to pasta, Emilia Romagna has no less than twenty-three regional varieties! Here is where lasagna was born, as well as tortellini, fettuccine and tagliatelle. In fact, with over 200 traditional products now protected by law, Emilia-Romagna is undoubtedly the heart of classic Italian home cooking.

For you food-lovers and gourmets out there, we would love to create a customized food and wine itinerary in this historically-rich Italian region. Although our specialist food and wine travel agency is based in Spain, we have great Italian experts in our team, as we provide food and wine itineraries of Italy for our cherished repeat clients, all of whom (like us!) appreciate nothing more than a great meal in a scenic spot with good company… So if for your next European adventure you want to visit authentic local producers and the more hidden corners of this magnificent country, our Italian travel specialists will make sure that you encounter everything you want to on your ideal Italian food & wine vacation!

Italian chef preparing a traditional pasta dish during an outdoor food event

 

When in Emilia Romagna (that’s ‘romaña’, English-speakers!) with us you will dine like an Italian aristocrat no matter where you go, from the local trattoria to the dining room of Osteria Francescana, the 3-Michelin-star restaurant in Modena, run by well-known food-lover and chef Massimo Bottura. In the Parma and Bologna area the respect for tradition and locally-sourced ingredients is strong: so be ready to encounter some incredible freshly made, home-cooked fare with its many beloved ingredients.

 

Parma is the second-largest city in Emilia Romagna, and the birthplace of renowned composer Giuseppe Verdi; so here you will not only find fantastic food, but marvellous opera at its ‘Teatro Regio’. Parma gives its name to the beloved cheese, Parmesan (who can have a pasta dish without it?). Parmigiano-Reggiano is a D.O.P (Designated Origin Protected) cheese that is believed to have been created by monks as a way of preserving milk. Genius!

 

Watching someone cut open a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano (and at 35kg, they are difficult to manoeuvre!) is a spectacle in itself – you will see how laborious it is, as the knife makes its way into the hardened flesh of this incredible cheese. Then you will enjoy some Parmesan cheese local-style, a chunk with fresh crusty bread, a slice of Parma ham, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for sweetness. Buonissimo!

 

When it comes to all things pig, the locals of Emilia Romagna have that covered too! We have their ancestors to thank for Prosciutto di Parma (produced from the pigs’ hind-legs) and Culatello di Zibello (considered the king of meats, it is made from the fatty back-end of pork) which is a ruby-red, melt-in-your-mouth kind of affair. On your gourmet Italian tour with us in the Parma and Bologna areas, you will taste some amazing prosciutto di Parma and Culatello di Zibello ham at local artisan producers.

 

 

 

A world-renowned Italian product which cannot be overlooked for its uses is the vinegar Balsamico di Modena, a condiment which has been produced for centuries. Made from the must of Trebbiano grapes, it becomes denser and sweeter as it ages in the barrel, and can be used to dress various types of meats , cheeses  and roasted vegetables, as well as add a dash of sweetness to sugo al pomodoro (tomato sauce) or stone fruit warmed on a griddle for dessert with gelato. Buon appetito!

Join us on an authentic hidden Italy food and wine tour, discovering not only the “must-sees” but also the just-as-beautiful but lesser-known parts of this glorious country.  Experience visits to charming local food artisans, Parmesan cheese and ham producers and enjoy the company of our excellent and fun local guides – you may even want to try your hand at making some tortellini!

Please note that we create only our own private itineraries, working directly with carefully hand-picked and proven providers, so we can easily custom-make a perfect Italian tour to suit your preferences, with no additional costs.