1890s › Immigrant communities celebrated
their harvest surviving summer hailstorms.
1911 › Official Vendimia festival
proposed by Spanish immigrant José Trianes Díaz as part of a project
to raise the national profile of Mendoza wine.
1913 › First unofficial harvest parade
hits the streets.
1936 › First official Harvest Queen
elected. First entrance fees charged. First Carrusel parade.
1938 › First Blessing of the Grapes.
1940 › Mendoza Capital's queen appointed
ex officio hostess and barred from contesting for the title of
Harvest Queen.
1940 › Floating stage on lake in
Parque General San Martin destroyed by storm. First Via Blanca
parade as they drove the floats home from the alternative venue.
1946 › Official Vendimia song "Canto
a Mendoza" adopted.
1948 › First repeat of the Acto Central,
to settle a tie between two Harvest Queen candidates.
1954 › Acto Central has a one-year
stint in the new amphitheatre in Parque General San Martin.
1956 Vendimia cancelled due to polio
epidemic.
1959 › Economic crisis results in
Vendimia being celebrated modestly at Government House.
1963 › Acto Central moves to the
amphitheatre permanently.
1985 › Vendimia officially cancelled
due to earthquake.
1986 › Mendoza Capital's queen allowed
to contest for title in celebration of 50 year anniversary.
VENDIMIA: HOW DOES IT MEASURE UP TO THE COMPETITION?
Mendoza's Vendimia isn't the only fiesta going on at this time
of year. The Grapevine weighs up the competing parties on offer
to see where you get the most bang for your hedonistic buck.
Carnaval Where: Rio de Janiero. When:
February - 40 days before Easter. Why: Celebrating
the start of the Christian festival of Lent. Pros:
Carnaval has a sambadrome. Vendimia has a hippodrome. There's
no contest. Also trumps Vendimia on the street parade count by
at least 4 to 2. Mendoza simply must have more parades to compete
internationally. Cons: No official beauty pageant,
although they elect a fat man "Carnaval king".
St Patrick's Day Where: Everywhere you can find an Irishman. When:
March 17. Why: Celebrating the patron saint of Ireland. Pros:
Unlike Vendimia, far from a dry celebration. Only one event, albeit
up to 5 days long in Dublin, so as not to confuse participants.
Cons: No official beauty pageant. Oggling through
the bottom of a beer glass doesn't count.
Australian Lavender Festival Where: Lilydale, Tasmania, and Mittagong, New
South Wales. When: January. Why:
Celebrating the lavender harvest. Pros: Learn
how lavender oil is made in a fun-filled party atmosphere suitable
for all the family. Cons: No official beauty
pageant, though no beauty queen should be without lavender oil
as an aromatherapy aid and soothing foot balme after all that
parading.
Battersea Beer Festival Where: Battersea Arts Centre, England. When:
February 7-9. Why: Who needs a reason? Pros:
Over 100 real ales and ciders, and none of them are made by Quilmes.
Cons: Battersea.
