Year after year, the Ribera del Duero welcomes the autumn, grapes in hand, giving the best of our land: it’s time to harvest! But… What are the characteristics of the Ribera del Duero grape harvest?

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The word “vendimia” derives from the Latin word “vindemia” and means “to remove from the vine”. Autumn is coming to Ribera del Duero and it’s time to harvest the grapes and work hard (or eslomarse, as we say around here). The grapes have already reached their optimum ripeness and the more than 100 million kg of grapes have to be harvested in our region.

Here are some interesting facts about the harvest season in Ribera del Duero, which lasts between 4 and 6 weeks and, like other foodstuffs, is harvested only once a year.

WHEN DOES THE RIBERA DEL DUERO GRAPE HARVEST BEGIN?

The harvest period in the northern hemisphere takes place between July and October. Oenology professionals decide, refractometer in hand by measuring the sugar level (see image below), which is the optimum time to start the harvest, a time that will determine the quality of the wine or other aspects such as intensity, freshness or aroma. In Ribera del Duero, the grape harvest usually begins at the beginning of autumn: it normally starts at the end of September but can be delayed until the beginning of October. Of the thirteen wine designations of origin in Castilla y León, the Ribera del Duero is one of the latest. This is mainly due to the climatic characteristics of each region and the type of grape grown: our vineyards are subject to sharp contrasts in temperature between the summer days and nights.

Measuring the sugar level with a refractometer at Bodegas Ferratus

► RIPARIAN GRAPE TYPES OR VARIETALS

It is essential to know the varietal or type of grape that is going to be used to make each type of wine. In Ribera del Duero, TEMPRANILLO (also known as TINTA FINA) rules, but be aware that it is not the only one! We have five other grape varieties permitted by the Control Board: CABERNET-SAUVIGNON, MERLOT, MALBEC, GARNACHA TINTA and ALBILLO MAYOR (the only white variety). The latter has been used since 2019 for the production of the so-called“Ribera Blanca“, allowing white wines to be marketed with the Ribera del Duero seal, a milestone in our region.

► THE RIVERSIDE BAPTISM: TAKE LAGAREJO!

It is very common for many riverside families to have vineyards, and so they get their relatives and friends to do the harvesting. The lagarejo is a kind of baptism for those who are new to the art of harvesting and consists of rubbing a good bunch of grapes in the face of the new grape picker. It is a fun way to begin the ritual of “leaving the kidneys behind”. In addition, people from other nearby villages were hired to harvest the grapes. Nowadays, things have changed considerably, both in the origin of the grape pickers and in the way of harvesting.

A well-deserved rest during the harvest in La Horra (Burgos). Photo by @ElGalanHorrense

► THE WIKIVENDIMIA: THE TOOLS AND VOCABULARY OF THE GRAPE HARVEST IN THE RIBERA DEL DUERO REGION

What a string of vocabulary the world of wine provides us with! From the lines, the vines in goblet or trellis, the tendrils, the thinning, the skins and the skins, the dangerous stench that is given off in the cellars? But in the grape harvest it is very important to be skilful with the garillo! Because you can take a finger and because it will be an extension of your arm to cut each and every bunch of grapes. In some riverside areas it is also called garullo.

Garillo [Photo by Vinomia].

Here in Ribera we also have, for example, the conachos, cunachos or cuévanos, which are the old wicker baskets where the grapes were deposited when harvesting. And just when we thought that everything had been done, the time comes to search for the forgotten grapes in the baskets.

In spite of their disuse, we are lucky that many of these tools are on display in the different WINE MUSEUMS that we have on our Route, take a look because it is very interesting.

Ribiértete Wine Museum (Aranda de Duero)

► RIBERPEDIA: VINTAGE EXPRESSIONS

There are plenty of expressions about the grape harvest, even in songbooks! And the world of wine is very recurrent, take a look at some examples:

• “He doesn’t even know who he’s harvesting for“: no need to explain the meaning, right?
• “To be out for grapes” or “To be on the vine”: he doesn’t know what it means.
• “More hard up than in the grape harvest” means having a hard time, that this is not always going to be an oasis.
• “I’d give you more cakes than there are grapes in a bunch“: alas alas alas alas!
• “What a beautiful thing to search for, an unharvested vine“: it’s like finding a banknote in old trousers.
• “Nobody gets sick during the grape harvest“, Celes told us from Montejo de la Vega de la Serrezuela.
• “Short bunch, long harvest“.
• “Fox in the vineyard lightens the grape harvest“.
• “Ni pá vendimiar ni pá tacos de escopeta“.
• “He who is not good for harvesting, is good for taking out baskets”.

In our particular Riberpedia you can consult other typical expressions of our region, will you get a pass in “ribereño”?

► HARVEST FIGURES AND BACK LABELS

We show you the grape harvest figures for the last few years in Ribera el Duero: in 2018 the record was set, with more than 125 million kg of grapes harvested. In addition, the volume of back labels delivered to the wineries for the marketing of their wines broke the record in 2021 with more than 100 million units:

*Data: CRDO Ribera del Duero

► FOR DESSERT: GRAPE CAKES

As in any harvest, every last grape is sacred and in Roa they know it well: look at the sweet recipe they make in this riverside town during the grape harvest: TORTOS DE UVA. They are a kind of sweet pastry filled with grapes. The guys from the programme ESPAÑA DIRECTO really enjoyed…

Tortos de uva

► THE GRAPE HARVEST FESTIVAL IN RIBERA DEL DUERO

What better way to end the grape harvest than with a party! Today it is still customary to celebrate the end of the hard work with the traditional treading of the grapes and tasting the first must at events such as these:

• In Peñafiel a lively parade is organised (animals included), culminating in the treading of the grapes in the beautiful Plaza del Coso, with the majestic castle as witness.

Grape Harvest Festival in Peñafiel

• Since 2018, the Denominación de Origen Ribera del Duero has been organising in style LA GRAN FIESTA DE LA VENDIMIA in Aranda de Duero, which lasts a whole weekend in September and features top-level activities and concerts all over the town. Don’t miss it!

Great Grape Harvest Festival in Aranda de Duero

• In addition, many of the wineries along the river open to wine tourism organise activities during the grape harvest (including grape treading), ideal for you to get to know the world of wine a little more closely…

So much for our review of some of the curiosities and customs of the grape harvest in Ribera del Duero. Join us and experience this festival up close, make a note of the date in your diary! You can ask us here:

• info@riberate.com
• Telephone: (+ 34) 947 10 72 54

Listen to the PODCAST here: https://linktr.ee/riberate

But also… Did you know that there is a whole world of underground wineries in Ribera del Duero? Thousands of them!

You can also easily organise your route with this simple map that will help you plan your stay in Ribera del Duero. And, if you prefer, you can hire the official tourist guides of our Route, as well as other tourist services such as bus rental, etc…

To complete your stay in Ribera del Duero you can visit our WINERIES / WINERIES WITH RESTAURANT / RESTAURANTS / ENOTECAS or stay at one of our member ESTABLISHMENTS.

We are waiting for you!

[Date of edition: September 2020] [Date of edition: September 2020