Uruguay Archives - South America Wine Guide

Vendimia is the busiest time of year in South America’s wine regions, not only for the harvest happening in the vineyards but the massive parties and celebrations happening in the streets, plazas and parks! Here’s a full round up of all the Vendimia 2023 events in Argentina (including the biggest of all, Vendimia in Mendoza!), Chile, Uruguay and Peru!

Vendimia events in Argentina

FIESTA NACIONAL DE LA VENDIMIA MENDOZA

Running since 1936, Mendoza’s Fiesta de la Vendimia is one the biggest wine harvest festivals in the world and pulls in hundreds of thousands of visitors and wine lovers each year. If you are planning to visit Mendoza while the harvest festival 2023 is happening, here are some of the key dates to get in your diary:

Sunday 26th February: Bendicion de los Frutos

One of the most traditional and religious events in the harvest celebration, the harvest blessing takes place on Sunday 26th February in Prado Gaucho, Parque General San Martin this year. No tickets required.

Friday 3rd March: Via Blanca de las Reinas

The night before the big night, the Queens’ Parade is one of the most popular events of the big harvest festival weekend with an evening parade through the city centre of all the harvest queens, their princesses and their colourful floats. It’s a colourful and fun evening. No tickets required.

Saturday 4th March: Carrusel & Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia 2023

This is the big day. To kick it off, the Carrusel starts from Plaza Independencia and is an enormous parade through the city centre with all the harvest queens but also gauchos, folk dancers, and my personal favourite – the Bolivian Caporales. Expect wines, grapes and melons to be thrown with abandon! No tickets required.

In the evening, the first night of the big Vendimia show takes place in the greek Frank Romero Day theatre where the official Vendimia Queen 2023 is elected in a long, often tearful show.

Prices for the show are as follows:

$2,000 pesos, Malbec sector;
$1,750, Tempranillo;
$1,300, Cabernet;
$1,200, Bonarda and Chardonnay.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.entradaweb.com.ar/

Sunday 5th March & Monday 6th March: Harvest show repetitions

You can catch the show again (minus the queen election) on Sunday and Monday night, and tickets cost $1,000 pesos.

The local harvest festivals in Mendoza are being held on the following dates:

Friday 17th & 18th February: Mendoza capital

Sunday 19th February: Santa Rosa, Lavalle & Las Heras

Monday 20th February: Guaymallen, San Martin & Maipu

Tuesday 21st February: Gral. Alvear, Junin, Lujan de Cuyo

Wednesday 22nd February: San Carlos, La Paz, Tupungato

Thursday 23rd February: Tunuyan, San Rafael & Rivadavia

Friday 24th February: Ciudad de Mendoza, Malargue, Godoy Cruz

For more information about Fiesta de la Vendimia 2023 in Mendoza visit https://vendimia.mendoza.gov.ar/

Where can you buy tickets for Mendoza Fiesta de Vendimia 2023?

Tickets for Mendoza’s harvest festival can be purchased online at https://www.entradaweb.com.ar/

The ultimate guide to Cabernet Franc in South America

Key descriptors

Deep purple colour. Aromas of red fruit, flowers & wild herbs. Dry, refreshing (medium +) acidity and fine, peppery (medium) tannins with a medium to full body.

Winemaking styles

There are only limited plantings of Cabernet Franc and it’s one of the hottest grape varieties at the moment, so winemaking is typically focused on making premium wines. Hand-harvesting, moderate maceration periods (2-3 weeks), fermented in stainless steel, concrete or barrel, and usually aged for <12 months in neutral oak, finishing with a moderate level of alcohol (14%). Monovarietals and blends.

Guide to Chilean Cabernet Franc wines

Hectares planted: 1,692 hectares

The ultimate Latin American wine guide: Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia & Peru. Buy the book today!

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Vendimia 2023 : Guide to harvest events & celebrations in South America