The Verema Harvest Festivals in Mallorca: Celebrating the Island’s Winemaking Tradition
The Fiestas de la Verema, or harvest festivals, are deeply rooted in Mallorcan culture and mark the start of the grape harvest. These festivals, generally held between late August and early October, are a living testament to the importance of wine in the island's history and economy.
Mallorca has a long winemaking tradition dating back to Roman times. Although wine production experienced ups and downs over the centuries, especially due to the phylloxera plague that devastated European vineyards in the late 19th century, the Mallorcan wine industry has seen a resurgence in recent decades. Today, the island boasts two Designations of Origin (D.O.) – Binissalem and Pla i Llevant – and a Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) for Mallorcan wines.
The Verema Harvest Festivals are celebrated in various towns across the island, but the most well-known and popular take place in Binissalem, at the heart of the island's namesake wine region. These festivals, which last about a week, blend tradition, culture, and of course, plenty of wine.
The Best Verema Harvest Festivals in Mallorca
The central event of the festivities is the "Festa des Vermar," which occurs on the last weekend of September. The celebration kicks off with a proclamation followed by the “grape battle,” a fun event where participants throw grapes at each other in the town square. While this might seem wasteful, the grapes used are those unsuitable for winemaking, repurposed for festive fun.
Another highlight is the float parade, where locals decorate vehicles with harvest- and wine-related themes. It’s common to see floats adorned with bunches of grapes, wine barrels, and people dressed in traditional Mallorcan costumes.
The Gastronomy of the Harvest
Gastronomy plays a key role in these festivities. Popular feasts are organized, serving traditional dishes such as “fideus de vermar,” a noodle stew with meat that was traditionally prepared for workers during the grape harvest. Other typical dishes include “cocarroi de verdura,” a vegetable-filled pastry, and of course, sobrassada, the island’s signature cured sausage.
As expected, wine flows abundantly throughout the festival. Wine tastings are held, where visitors can sample the best wines of the region. Many local wineries open their doors to the public, offering guided tours and explaining the winemaking process.
An interesting aspect of the Verema Harvest Festivals is the selection of the "Vermadora Major" and her court of honor. These young women, dressed in traditional Mallorcan attire, represent the festival at various events and are responsible for treading the first grapes, symbolically marking the beginning of the harvest.
The festivals also include cultural activities such as concerts, art exhibitions, sports competitions, and traditional games. One of the more curious traditions is the “cosos” competition, where participants must drink wine from a porrón (a traditional wine pitcher) without spilling a drop.
Other Harvest Festivals on the Island
While Binissalem's festival is the most famous, other towns across Mallorca also celebrate their own version of the Festa des Vermar. For instance, Consell holds the "Fira del Vi," a wine fair where visitors can sample wines from across the island. In Felanitx, the “Fira des Vi de Felanitx” highlights wines from the Pla i Llevant region.
In recent years, these festivals have grown in popularity among tourists, becoming an additional attraction for visiting Mallorca outside the peak summer season. This growing interest has helped promote Mallorcan wines internationally and contributed to strengthening the island’s cultural identity.