The Grape Harvest Festival reaches its 64th edition this year and is on from 3rd to 5th October, with an extensive programme of activities to remember and highlight the ancient wine-making tradition in Sitges. Organised by Foment de Sitges with the support of the Councillor’s Office for Tourism at Sitges Town Council and the sponsorship of Familia Torres, the festival aims to promote the culture of local wine and gastronomy based on activities held mainly in Passeig de la Ribera and in Plaça de la Fragata.

The celebration gets under way on Friday afternoon with the Wine Fair, bringing together ten exhibitors between wineries and food. The fair will be held in Passeig de la Ribera from 7 pm to 11 pm, offering visitors the first chance to taste the wines being showcased.

Saturday gets under way with the inauguration of the Espai Torres&Earth, followed by the opening of the Wine Fair. Throughout the day, visitors will also be able to enjoy the fair in Plaça de la Fragata. The day culminates with the Opening Speech for the Grape Harvest, given by Jordi Cubillos i Almiñana in the Racó de la Calma, at 7.30 pm.

Sunday brings the most traditional activities. The first grape pressing will be in Plaça del Baluard at 10.15 am, followed by wreath laying at the church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla. The Wine Fair continues in Plaça de la Fragata from 12 noon to 3.30 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm. At 12.30 pm it’s time for the 46th Grape Treading Competition, one of the highlights in the programme. Over sixty representatives from different local organisations will be recreating the traditional grape pressing activity, treading on grapes to extract the must. This symbolic and festive activity is a chance to connect with the town’s wine-making roots, celebrate local culture and assert the importance of wine and vines as part of the heritage of Sitges.

Afterwards it’s time to weigh the Pubilla and the Hereu, the symbolic male and female heirs of the town, with their weight in wine bottles, a ceremony combining local festive tradition and symbolism. The event rounds off with havanera singing by the Grup Xató at 7 pm, accompanied by traditional flamed liquor using Brandy Torres 10.

The programme sees Sitges invite visitors to discover a celebration that has been held during the start of the grape harvest every singly year since 1961. Three intense days to enjoy the culture of wine, discover wine-making traditions and actively take part in the town’s cultural and festive life.