The Wine And Water Festival With First Festival Travel

Each year, in the last days of August as part of La Tomatina, the tiny Valencian town of Requena celebrates its grape harvest. The wine harvest festivity goes back to ancient celebrations in which autumn and the grape harvest were celebrated. Years on, celebrations still take after these simple traditions which promote the region’s superb wines. Dating back to the 40’s, it is the oldest wine harvest festivity in Spain, known as La Fiesta de la Vendimia.

One of the highlights is the ‘noche de la zurra’ (night of music) – a night where the locals parade through the town following the ‘charangas’ (small orchestras) and carrying ‘botas de vino’ (wineskins). The crushing of the first grapes is celebrated and there are some bizarre traditions in store for the unaware. First Festival Travel is proud to be invited to this authentic Spanish all-night event and have some information for those who might want to join in this year… (A wine and water festival, who wouldn’t?)

At about 10.30pm on Tuesday 30^th August this year, the festivities will begin in the Bull Arena with local bands competing to impress with their music and a bull in the ring to chase around those crazy locals who are stupid enough to try their luck. Note this is no bull fight and those in the arena are not to touch the animals; it is more of a show with locals testing their flipping and jumping skills and tricks.

At approximately 1am a procession through the town begins with the bands parading out of the Bull Arena and everyone flooding into the atmosphere. People take to the streets to beseech the powers-that-be for the water needed for the next harvest. Their neighbours waste no time in granting this request with the help of buckets of water and hoses, and everyone gets a thorough soaking!

The event also gives visitors the opportunity to taste wine from the first pressing, as well as featuring a procession with offerings of fruit and flowers. Look out for wine vats set up on random street corners – if you can fight to the front they will refill your drink vessel for you!

First Festival’s Recommended Dos and Don’ts for the Wine and Water Festival

DO wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes

DO take an empty plastic vessel to scoop up free wine along the way (the bigger the better!)

DO take a change of clothes for the journey home

DO take some food and drinks with you as there are not always shops accessible or open. The locals love to share so food like crackers, crisps and cured meats etc are a good option

DO take tambourines and maracas – you will not be out of place!

DON’T take any valuables (or wrap them in plastic to avoid getting them wet or damaged)

DON’T wear clothes you are not prepared to get stained – it is red wine

DON’T get so drunk on the free wine that you sleep in and miss La Tomatina the next morning!

So there you have it; a street party throughout the night with free wine and a water fight!

If you’d like to read more about La Tomatina and perhaps join First Festival travel this year, have a read of their article here

To make a booking for the exclusive Wine & Water festival, email [email protected] or visit www.firstfestivaltravel.com.