Grape Festival - Vendimia

Along with the Axarquia and the Montes de Malaga areas, Manilva is an important centre for the production of the Moscatel grape which, when dried on the local hillsides, provides the world famous 'Pasas de Malaga', the Malaga raisin, as well as a range of wines from dry to the sweet 'Malaga' wine.

There have been vineyards in Manilva since the 16th Century but the industry enjoyed its heyday during the 17th and 18th centuries when Manilva was a major producer of wines and brandies.

Unfortunately the local vineyards saw a decline during the 19th century which culminated in the destruction of the vines by the Phylloxera epidemic which decimated vineyards throughout Europe in the 1860s.

It wasn't until after the Spanish Civil War that Manilva took up grape growing as an important economic activity centred on the sweet Moscatel grape which is ideally suited to Manilva's climate, situation and soil type.

Every year, on the first weekend in September, Manilva celebrates its annual grape harvest. This festival was founded in the early '60s and has become an important part of the local calendar, drawing in visitors from all across the region.

This year the festival falls on the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of September and the provisional programme is as follows:

Saturday, 2nd September, 2006

As with most local festivals the day starts at 8.00 am with the local brass band performing through the town streets accompanied by rockets!

Then in the late afternoon there is a Mass at the church in Manilva in honour of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores with singing by the Santa Ana Choir, followed by a procession through the streets of Manilva accompanied by the Manilva Municipal Band and bearing offerings of bunches of grapes.
This is followed by a competition to judge this year's champion bunches of grapes.

From 10.00 in the evening there will be music and dancing in Calle Mar to the group 'La Cala'.

Sunday, 3rd September

At midday the day's festivities begin with music from the groups 'La Cala' and 'Calambre' as well plenty of food and drink as well as gifts and free 'copas' of wine.
At around 7.00 in the evening there will be a ceremonial treading of the grapes and a chance to try the first juice of the year.