September 7 and 8 Fiestas de la Vendimia in Yecla
The wine-producing town of Yecla celebrates the picking of the first grapes of the season
The 2024 Fiestas de la Vendimia in Yecla, which are held to mark the picking of the first wine grapes of the season, are taking place over the weekend of September 7 and 8 and feature the traditional folk music and dancing festival along with plenty of wine-related celebrations.
The events of the weekend include the following:
Saturday September 7
19.00: Official reception of the groups taking part in the “Festival de Folclore Ciudad de Yecla 2024” at the Auditorio Municipal “Juan Miguel Benedito Rodríguez”, followed by a musical parade from the Plaza Mayor to the Parque de la Constitución.
20.00: The official trading of the first grapes and production of the first “mosto” or unfermented Monastrell grape juice in the Parque de la Constitución, with music and dancing from the Asociación de Coros y Danzas Mazantini from Ciudad Real, the Grupo de Danzas Ciudad de Dos Hermanas (Sevilla) and Coros y Danzas de Yecla.
Tapas and wine tasting throughout the evening with wines provided by Bodegas Castaño, Bodegas Evine, Bodegas Barahonda, Bodegas Conde de Montornés and Bodegas La Purísima.
Sunday September 8
12.00: Holy Mass in the Basílica de la Purísima and blessing of the first mosto.
13.00: The groups from Ciudad Real, Sevilla and Yecla perform outside the Basilica and more tastings of wines provided by the Bodegas affiliated to the Yecla Wine Route.
Tickets will be available in advance, with a package for 3 tapas, 2 wines, a tasting pallet and a cut glass costing 15 euros and a package for 3 tapas and 2 wines costing 11 euros.
The Fiestas de la Vendimia were first held in Yecla in 1969, and the treading of the first grapes was always accompanied by the “Fandanguillo de Yecla”, performed by Coros y Danzas. Although the celebrations disappeared for a few years they have been revived since the Covid pandemic by the Wine Route.
If visiting Yecla don’t forget to make sure one of your first ports of call is the tourist office (Plaza Mayor, 1, email turismo@yecla.es, telephone 968 754104).
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Address
Plaza Mayor, Casa de los Arcos, s/n 30510 YECLATel: 968 754 104
Oficina de Turismo de Yecla
Yecla is a large municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia, home to just under 35,000 people, and these days is best known for its wines, which enjoy Denomination of Origin status, and its furniture production, which has its origins in the abundance of pine trees on the mountainsides and the high plateaux.
While visitors in the 21st century may be attracted primarily by wine tourism, the town (or city, as it was proclaimed in 1878) also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage, and an identity quite different from the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia. For this reason it is often grouped together with its neighbour and fellow wine-producing area Jumilla as part of the Altiplano area.
Yecla borders with Castilla-La Mancha and the Region of Valencia and is closer to Alicante coastal areas than much of Murcia. These visitors come to see the historic old town itself - an atmospheric and interesting place, crammed full of history - the natural beauty of Monte Arabí, with stunning views for those who enjoy the outdoors, the gastonomy and of course the wine route.
Yecla boasts cave paintings from 10,000 years ago in Monte Arabí, a Bronze Age settlement at El Arabilejo, Iberian remains in El Pulpillo and a Roman administrative centre at Los Torrejones as well as the remnants of the 11th century Moorish castle on the hill behind the town. More modern (and complete) testimony to the past are the buildings in the town centre, which include the grandiose Basílica de la Purísima, with its striking blue dome, the archaeological museum and the attractive Plaza Mayor, where the 16th century Town Hall stands alongside the Renaissance Casa de los Alarcos, the clock tower and the old grain store.
The tourist office holds a full selection of leaflets, maps, pre-planned routes, accommodation and restaurant options and information about visiting Yecla for both individuals and groups.
There is parking close to the tourist office, although those driving to Yecla for the first time are advised to park in Calle Perales.
For further information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 8.00 to 15.00
Saturdays 10.30 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.30.
Public holidays 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Yecla tourist office
