National Vintage Festival

4 days
3 nights

Argentina worships its wines through one of the most spectacular events: The National Vintage Festival, celebrated in the province of Mendoza. It is the world´s major celebration in honor of wine. It  consists of many activities carried on in each one of the 18 departments that make up this province during the months of January, February, and March, finishing with the Great National Show in the capital city.

The most important events take place in March. These are the Carrusel and Via Blanca (parades with big carriages that take the queens and their courts along the city streets) and the Great Central Show at Frank Romero Day Greek Amphitheatre, which is the major attraction of the festival.  This is a giant and innovative artistic show of dance, light and sound with hundreds of actors and dancers on enormous scenery. The story line is always about wine and it worships the Virgin of Carrodilla and all the Argentineans that participate in the viticulture activity of this country. The show always finishes with the election of the National Vintage Queen and the imposing fireworks that dance at the compass of music during more than 20 minutes.

The Vintage Festival has acquired relevance throughout the years and it has been established as the most important in the country. Apart of this, it is considered as one of the five greatest festivities in he world, together with the Dragon Festivity in China, The Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil, the Venice Festival in Italy and the San Fermín Festival in Pamplona, Spain.

This is Vintage, the one that arises from the land of the sun and the good wine, symbol of a generous heart opened to the world.

“The wine is sovereign, it orders, and when it stays in the heart of men, it wants to fly, it jumps and jumps with the wigs of games, with its wigged naivety”.

“Give me wine because I want to gallop In  the air”.

“Give me happiness, give me Vintage!!! "

Program

Day one (Thursday): We will be waiting for you at the airport or at the bus station of Mendoza city. Our guide will welcome you and take you to the hotel selected for your check-in. This same day, we will visit the most important places of the capital city, specially the Frank Romero Day Greek Amphitheatre where the National Vintage Festival will take place.

Day 2 (Friday): Breakfast at the hotel. Then, we will pick you up to start the first visit to a winery located the area known as the High Viticulture Region of Mendoza River or First Region. Here are the most prestigious malbec vineyards and many of the wineries that make wines recognized at international levels. We will visit the installations of the winery and our guide will teach us about Mendoza´s wines, their elaboration processes and vine conduction systems. We will also share an informal lecture about tasting techniques and taste the wines of our hosts. Finally, we will enjoy lunch in the winery. At night we will participate of the Via Blanca, a parade of the candidates to become the National Vintage Festival Queen and their courts along the streets of the capital city. This is a very eye-catching show due to the carriages used, their lights and decoration, and the happiness of the people.

Day 3 (Saturday): Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we will carry out an activity in the open air, in complete communion with the landscape and the Mendocinian mountains. You will be able to choose a horse riding at the Andes foothills, rafting at Mendoza River or trekking along the Andes, among other activities. All these in a safe and amusing environment. At midday, we will enjoy a delicious barbecue at our host´s campsite, located at a totally wild and beautiful sight of the mountain. Late in the afternoon return to the hotel. At night, we will participate of the big event that summons us, the great National Vintage Show, which starts right on time at 22:00 pm. Anyway, we will arrive at the amphitheatre one hour before, so that you will be able to enjoy the show of the queens supportive “funs” within the amphitheatre as well as at the surrounding hills.

Day 4 (Sunday): Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we will do the second and third visit to the wineries selected by you, always accompanied by our tourist guide. Once the visits are over, we take you back to the hotel. Finally we will take you from the hotel to the airport or the bus station of Mendoza. Farewell and end of our services.