Fête des Vendanges

The big event in the wine producing calendar is back!

The very first Fête des Vendanges took place in Banyuls in 1996. The beach was chosen as the main venue, rather than the vineyards, to open the celebrations up to the public.

The Fête de Vendanges  turns the beach into a colourful, animated mass of eating and drinking, bands and musicians, jugglers, glee and laughter. Towards the end of the afternoon, Catalan Barques zig zag a ballet in the bay before bringing the “harvest” in to the shore.

Book your own free table on the beach (info from town hall) and invite your friends to make a day of it with you. Take your own food and drink, BBQ, or buy food and wine from the many beach bars and restaurants set up on the sands. A lively day of fun and bonhomie.

This year’s festival is particularly special to local wine producers. Not only have they endured harsh weather – a lack of rain followed by deluges – and battled with Covid restrictions, but 2021 also marks the 50th anniversary of cru Collioure… if that’s not a great excuse for a tipple, we don’t know what is!

Programme

New this year, visit the Village Vigneron on the Plage Centrale from 8th to 10th October, with over 100 vintages to taste!
5€ for the eco cup, plus an additional 15€ if you want the tasting menu.

Other events include:

• Portrait de Vignerons exhibition at the Mairie
• Quizes
• Film screenings/theatre procutions
• Goumet meals by the Chefs des Toques Blanches du Roussillon
• Sardanes
• Guided walks
• Tasting workshops
• Terroir market
• Live concerts
• A much, much more….

Check out the full programme here.

Don’t miss

On the Sunday the beach becomes positively medieval, the smoke from endless grillades rising in to the autumn air, musicians, stilt walkers and jugglers mingling with the crowd, food is consumed in great quantities, much wine is drunk and, towards the end of the afternoon, Catalan Barques zig zag a ballet in the bay before bringing the “harvest” in to the shore.