The Montilla City Council has announced a new edition of the Fiesta de la Vendimia (Harvest Festival), one of the most representative celebrations in the local calendar. This year, the festival will expand its program, bringing together cultural, musical, religious, sports, and wine-sector activities over several days, starting from Thursday and continuing until the Monday holiday.
The program will kick off on Thursday with the opening speech promoted by the Gran Capitán Neighborhood Association, a concert by the Pascual Marquina Music Band in the Plaza de la Asunción, and a new street parade by the La Unión Music Band. The mayor of Montilla, Rafael Llamas, emphasized that the edition aims to further consolidate the celebration, which is closely linked to the city's identity and the wine sector, promoting Montilla, its culture, heritage, and wines.
One of the main novelties will be the designation of the Rector of the University of Córdoba, Manuel Torralbo Rodríguez, as the official speaker and honorary capataz. Rafael Llamas highlighted this choice as recognition of the relationship between knowledge, innovation, and the development of the wine sector, as well as the University of Córdoba's commitment to strengthening its presence in the province's municipalities.
The Harvest Festival will also reinstate the figure of the guest city, which this year will be Almendralejo, a municipality with a significant winemaking tradition and a member of the ACEVIN network of wine cities, like Montilla. Almendralejo's participation will foster closer ties between both cities and generate new activities related to wine, tourism, and innovation.
Rafael Llamas also announced that the City Council is working on Montilla's candidacy for Spanish City of Wine 2027. This proposal will be detailed soon and aims to be a turning point for the promotion of its wines, territory, and city brand. The upcoming opening of the new visitor reception center and the Wine Museum at the Parador were highlighted as key upcoming tourist milestones.
The mayor also commented on the prospects for the current grape harvest. According to data from the Regulatory Council of the DOP Montilla-Moriles, production is expected to increase by 30 to 40 percent compared to last year, with the grapes in good sanitary condition.
The Councilor for Festivals, Miguel Sánchez, highlighted that the program will feature musical performances every day, including orchestras, cover bands, tribute acts, and local groups. The Monday musical closing will be by the Cordoban group La Corredera. Sánchez emphasized the goal of making citizens feel immersed in one of the most important celebrations from the Thursday start, with sports, cultural, and wine-related events.
From the Hermandad de la Santa Cena (Brotherhood of the Holy Supper), its senior brother, José Luis Fernández, provided details for the events on the 6th: a flamenco mass at 8:00 PM in Bodegas Pérez Barquero, presided over by Abraham Luque, with Antonio Nieto on vocals and Curro Cruz on guitar. Following the religious service at 9:15 PM, a procession will depart from Bodegas Pérez Barquero to the Plaza de la Merced, where around 10:15 PM, one of the most representative moments of the Harvest Festival will take place: the traditional grape stomping and the obtaining of the first must.
The brotherhood's program will continue on Monday the 7th with a rule mass and a fellowship meal. The presentation also served to unveil the festival's poster, created by Montilla photographer Chema G. Mármol. The artist explained that the composition centers on the grape stomping and the first must, alongside the Virgen de las Viñas, referencing historical posters of the Harvest Festival.
Chema G. Mármol explained that the poster aims to maintain continuity with historical posters while offering a contemporary interpretation of one of the most exciting moments of the harvest. The Montilla City Council, along with the Consejo Regulador de la DOP Montilla-Moriles, the Hermandad de la Santa Cena, and other participating entities, are finalizing the details of a Harvest Festival that will once again dedicate September to wine culture, local identity, and the promotion of Montilla as a wine tourism destination.
