[image]
[title]The grape harvest season in Mendoza is one of the province’s most important tourist periods, centered around the grand National Grape Harvest Festival, a celebration marking the end of the harvest and a toast to the "new wine."
Each year, during the first weekend of March, the Frank Romero Day Greek Theater becomes the stage for the main event, where over a thousand artists perform, and 20,000 tourists from around the world witness the spectacle that concludes with the crowning of the National Grape Harvest Queen.
Did you know the grape harvest in Mendoza begins months earlier? The main event is the culmination of a harvest calendar that starts in December and lasts throughout the summer.
In 2025, Mendoza’s departments are already buzzing with the spirit of this new edition, titled “Guardian of the Eternal Wine”, set to take place from March 7 to 9. Before that, various festivals and activities will unfold—take note if you're planning to visit!
Grape Harvest in Mendoza: When the Past Becomes the Present
Grape harvest festivities date back to the 16th century when the Spanish began viticulture in the Cuyo region to produce wine for Holy Mass. Back then, the end of the harvest was celebrated with singing, dancing, and traditional meals under lush grapevines.
The first official Grape Harvest Festival was held in April 1936. Over time, it grew in scale, audience, and significance, becoming an internationally renowned event held exclusively at the Frank Romero Day Greek Theater in General San Martín Park.
You may also be interested in: The olive oil route in Mendoza
This festival merges music, theater, and dance, annually retelling a renewed story about the harvest, the land, and its people. The fusion of Latin American cultural heritage with modernity creates an anthropological spectacle known as the National Grape Harvest Festival, culminating in the crowning of its Queen.
How Is the Grape Harvest Celebrated in Mendoza?
Harvest has four official moments that are a must on the calendar: the Blessing of the Fruits, held on the Sunday before the grand festival; it's an interfaith ceremony where thanks are given for the new wine and prayers are made for the upcoming harvest.
Then comes the White Way of the Queens (the first Friday night of March, the day before the National Festival) and the Parade (Saturday morning, on the day of the coronation). These are parades with floats through the City of Mendoza, where candidates and their courts greet the people and hand out bunches of grapes, melons, and souvenirs.
Finally, the central event of the National Harvest Festival, held on the first Saturday night of March. The Frank Romero Day Greek Theater pulses to the rhythm of the show, which blends colors, rhythms, and special effects, including stage, technological, and pyrotechnic effects. Once the mesmerizing performance ends, the election of the National Harvest Queen takes place.
Not to forget the nights of the central event's repeat performances. The days following the festival, the show is revived, the incoming Queen speaks, and a musical show by renowned artists takes place. This edition will feature only one repeat performance on Sunday, and the artist has yet to be announced. Past performers have included Fito Páez, Ciro y Los Persas, Lali, and Nicki Nicole, among others.
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, locals and tourists will experience the 45th edition of the Festival, paying tribute to the world of winemaking, its creators, and its fruits. It will be called "Guardian of the Eternal Wine" and will be directed by Franco Emmanuel Agüero, with a script by Paula Barbuzza. That night, Mendoza will celebrate its greatest festival and crown a new National Queen to represent the province for the year.
When Does the Harvest Season in Mendoza Start?
Although the agenda says the next Harvest Festival will take place from March 7 to 9, let us tell you when it really begins.
In December and the first months of each year, the province is filled with festivals in every corner of its territory. Hundreds of local harvest celebrations start to take place in the neighborhoods, districts, and 18 departments, where the queen to represent each department at the Central Event is chosen. These departmental harvest festivals feature numerous activities that are free, accessible, and participatory. Every festival includes music and dance performances to enjoy.
By late February, you can visit the Federal Walk, a 7-day event where local communities showcase their candidates for the national crown, their dances, and typical dishes, all in one place.
In addition to the Harvest Festival at the Mendoza Airport vineyard, a musical and charitable event that brings together major artists with the Mendoza Philharmonic Orchestra. Here, provincial authorities and invited guests harvest grapes while part of the show takes place.
Being from Mendoza is celebrated strongly during all these days of festivity and invites tourists to experience this grand celebration.
What Other Activities Take Place During the Harvest in Mendoza?
Throughout the summer season, many more things happen. Mendoza fills with music, renowned artists, food stands offering local dishes, and dance, with classic summer festivals occurring in different departments. These events are a tribute to traditions and folklore but also serve as a stage for national and internationally recognized bands and artists.
One of these is the National Rivadavia Festival, where the city’s Municipal Sports Complex has confirmed artists for the 2025 edition: Airbag, Chaqueño Palavecino, La K'onga, Valentino Merlo, Gauchito Club, and Los Caldenes. The confirmed dates are from January 30 to February 2.
To the east, in Junín, the "Encounter of Nations" Festival takes place, a 3-day music event held in the Dueño del Sol Recreational Park at the end of January. In Santa Rosa, the 43rd National Cueca and Apricot Festival is celebrated in January.
In the south, at the Gaucho Fairgrounds in Malargüe, the 2025 National Goat Festival will take place from January 8 to 12, with many cultural activities and traditional roast lamb barbecue.
The National Tonada Festival is held over two days at the Municipal Amphitheater of Tunuyán, in the heart of the Uco Valley. In February, it will celebrate its 43rd edition. And in Lavalle, in northern Mendoza, the Provincial Melon and Watermelon Festival takes place, a two-night event in February.
In Mendoza city, from March 4 to 6, 2025, the new edition of Festa in Piazza will take place; a classic event at Plaza Italia where various Italian regions showcase their gastronomic offerings.
Note: Tickets for the Central Event and the repeat night of the National Harvest Festival are not yet on sale. This will be announced through the Mendoza Culture website and the official Harvest Festival page.