La Vendimia

To best describe the Argentine Wine Harvest Festival, think Eurovision Song Contest rolled up with a North American beauty pageant, served up with a South American street carnival and washed down with lots of wine. Today it´s a huge international event that attracts thousands, but it wasn´t always that way.

Years ago harvest time was one of the most important times of the year. All around the world, every society marked its significance in some way.

Mendoza was no different. The days before harvest are always worrisome. Especially in a region where a five-minute hailstorm of icy golf balls can destroy a years work. So people sighed with relief when the crop was finally in. Farm labourers celebrated with music and dance. A young girl was selected amongst the harvesters and crowned with a bunch of grapes. She became The Harvest Queen, a symbol of beauty, optimism and no more grape picking for this year.

From these somewhat informal, spontaneous beginnings
La Vendimia was born. April 1913 was an important date in its evolution. A business congress ended with a line of coaches, each representing a vineyard, trundling through the city streets. A parade was born.

It wasn't until 1936 however when the first Harvest Queen was officially elected. Because of its working class roots, many families were reluctant to enter their daughters. They regarded the elections as improper and undignified. This soon changed as the prizes grew richer and the title more prestigious. 1936 was also the first year an entrance fee was charged, justified by the fact that it was also the most spectacular. Decorated Gondolas floated on the park lake and fireworks entertained the masses.

The festivals growing popularity created problems. The increasing numbers of spectators made it difficult for the organizers to find a suitable venue. Somewhere was needed to showcase the performers and the crowning. It was a problem that would plague them for thirty years.

1939 saw the first Blessing of the Grapes. A statue of the Virgin Carrodilla presides over this ceremony, taking pride of place in the procession. Also in the same year a proper stage set was used in the Central Act and the organizers decided it was best to keep people in suspense and elect a Queen at the end rather than the beginning.

In 1940, they used a giant floating set on the park lake surrounded by glittering gondolas. Sounds lovely but all that water, electricity and alcohol must have made it a health and safety nightmare. As luck would have it a violent storm disrupted it entirely and the ceremony was forced indoors. A rain-sodden Queen was chosen in the Plaza hotel and the carnival cancelled until Monday.

Finally, in 1963, a Greek style amphitheatre was opened in the park. At last the main show had a home and it celebrated with a colourful display of lights, sound and fireworks.

The festival was growing. What had begun as a traditional rural party had now become a glitzy and sophisticated spectacle, done with flair and professionalism. The Harvest Queen, originally a kind of homage to women's work and sacrifice in the fields, has evolved into an ambassador for Mendoza, representing the virtues of the people and the beauty of the area. The festival itself has become a showcase for the city, the region and the nation.

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