|
Joyful Wine Festival of San Mateo - page 2 |
|
|
Photo above - cellar_calle_ruavieja: You can visit the wine cellars in the old towns. |
The "Camino de Santiago" goes through Logroño, crossing the stone bridge at the entrance, and continuing up the Ruavieja, a narrow street in the Old Town (Casco Antiguo). Traditionally all the houses along this street used to have a cellar, where the wine fermented in oak barrels. You can visit these antique cellars, some of which serve nowadays as restaurants.
Photo above - calle_de_barriocep: In the old town, the narrow cobbled streets are lined by smoother surface. |
Walking along the old cobbled streets you may wonder, why their sides are of smoother stone. It goes back for centuries. In the 16th century, the municipal stipulations tried to restrict the traffic, because the vibration caused by iron mounted wheels of the carriages disturbed the wine in the underlying cellars. Smoother surface brought some relief to the situation.
Offering of the First Must
The Esplanade of Logroño (Paseo del Espolón) shaded by old maple trees and ornated by beautiful flower beds is the scene of Sunday's main event. Children in traditional costumes bring small baskets of grapes onto a stage and pour these first samples of the new harvest into a half-barrel. The grapes are then crushed by two stamping men. The resulting first must is handed in a jug to the Vendimiadores (the Prince and Princess of the festival), who offer it to a statue of the patron saint of La Rioja, Our Lady of Valvanera.
|
Photo above - el_espolon: Children bring baskets of grapes on the stage.
Go to page 3 - Wine Festival of San Mateo
Return to the Spain's Festivals Top page |
 |
Book your Spain accommodations with my recommended Spain Travel Agent and use them to book your own exclusive Wine Tour.
Working with excellent local contacts, Madrid & Beyond opens up some of the best-kept secrets of Spain for the traveler. Personal guides, private wine tours, walking and bicycling excursions, balcony seats for the running with the bulls are just a few of the possibilities.
Note: Madrid and Beyond arranges trips in their entirety, not segments or single nights. Also Note: Madrid and Beyond's focus is on unique accommodations and three star hotels or above.
Relationship Disclosure
Booking Request Form |
|
|
|
|
