With the kickoff of autumn, Sitges is... good enough to eat! Cheese lovers can enjoy themselves the last weekend of September with the proposals offered by the Sitges Cheese Festival at its 2nd edition; an unbeatable opportunity to taste and acquire in-depth knowledge of the culture of artisanal cheese as a gourmet product. And just two weeks later, now in October, the traditional Grape Harvest Festival - with grape pressing and a grape treading contest - paired with the 13th Mostra de Vins Wine Fair. This year both are changing dates and will coincide with the closing of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. Tempting, right?
Sitges is much more than a sun and beach destination 365 days a year. Added to its many cultural attractions are the gastronomic ones, which become the main course of Sitges' tourist attractions during the first days of autumn, when the flavors blend with the characteristic colors of this season. The Paseo de la Ribera seaside promenade -which runs parallel to the beaches caressed by the Mediterranean- will exude an aroma of cheese with the 2nd edition of the Sitges Cheese Festival, which will take place from Friday September 27th to Sunday 29th
During an intense weekend, those who are attracted to this festival will be able to savor the most varied artisanal cheeses produced in the area, which make it a genuine gourmet product. And also pairings of Swiss cheeses with Malvasia – the local sweet wine - and other Catalan wines.
But the Sitges Cheese Festival is much more than cheese samplings and tastings. Accompanying this event there are children's gastronomic workshops –'La Marietta format era d'emmentaler Aop (Marietta the Emmentaler Aop Cheesemaker)',' Healthy Pinxos 'or' Pizzeta petiteta (Little Pizzas)'–, rides, concerts –Veneno en la Piel, Forever Young: Tribute to Bob Dylan– or musical sessions with DJ, disco, jazz or Latin rhythms, which make it a real party to enjoy as a family.
From cheese… to wines
The Grape Harvest Festival and Mostra de Vins Wine Fair is changing dates this year and moving to October 11, 12 and 13; that is, coinciding with the second weekend of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia. So two weeks after the Sitges Cheese Festival, wine will be the culinary substitute with the Grape Harvest Festival and Mostra de Vins Wine Fair, which this year are reaching their 58th and 13th editions, respectively.
This year, Mostra de Vins Wine Fair is extended one more day - Friday, in the afternoon - and about twenty wineries from the Garraf and Penedès regions are expected to participate. La Fragata Square, at the foot of the Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla parish church, the town’s icon, will become the epicenter of the event with a marquee for tastings and, at night, musical sessions.
Sunday will be the most intense day, starting early in the morning with the departure of the Pubilles and Hereus of the Grape Harvest Festival, the Pressing of the first most and, at 12:00 noon, La Fragata Square will host the spectacular Grape Treaders’ Competition, in its 41st edition.
Another of the most striking moments will be the weighing of the Pubilla and the Hereu, with their equivalent in wine, and the inauguration of the wine fountain. In the afternoon, La Fragata will be enlivened with music, singing of habaneras and cremat flambéed rum tasting.
The Grape Harvest Festival and Mostra de Vins Wine Fair, coinciding this year with the final stretch of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia - to be held from October 3rd to 13th - are an excellent gastronomic-cultural pairing to let yourself be tempted this autumn by the Blanca Subur.
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