Photos: Fiestas de San Mateo, Logroño, Spain

This wine harvest fiesta in Logroño, Spain, takes place on September 21st in the midst of the capital of the Rioja wine region. This is one of the premier wine regions of Spain and Logroño is one of Spain’s richest cities. Internationally-known vineyards like Marques de Riscal, Sierra Cantabria, Muga and C.U.N.E. surround this city. They produce the unique Rioja wines that were some of the first to make their ways into the wine palate of the world.

Logroño lays it on thick with fine wine goblets filled with wonderful red and white wines carried in from bodegas in the surrounding hills. Barrel after barrel of the red stuff are poured into a fountain in the center of town that spouts and splashes red wine throughout the festival.

Cabezudos, or Big Heads, parade through the town together with bands. They add colorful and musical tones to the celebrations. These traditions are similar to those found in festivities throughout Rioja and Navarra.

The party moves from the street into packed bars. Wine flows from barrels, bottles, botas and porróns. There are no rules about how to drink it. The only rule is that one must enjoy it, otherwise, why come? Together with the wine comes sumptuous tapas that bring the best tastes of Spain together.

Here, one finds street food that adds wonder to the festivities and dramatic color to the old town. From paella to pimientos, from salsichon to champiñones and from tortillas to Tigres the parade of flavors and textures is non-stop.

Photos: ©2010 Craig DeThomas, all rights reserved

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