Top 10 Best Wine Festivals in the World
By: Christy

Top 10 Best Wine Festivals in the World

1- The Wine Festival of Cyprus 

An annual festival in Limassol, Cyprus that celebrates wine and winemaking. The festival was first organized in 1961 and since then it has become an established annual event of merrymaking and fun, in which the citizens of Limassol are not the only participants; visitors come also from every part of Cyprus. Its reputation is spread beyond the geographic boundaries of the island. In September of each year, Limassol becomes the attraction of thousands of locals and tourists who visit the Municipal Garden to enjoy the Wine Festival with the motto 'Drink wine, it gives you life!' . 

The Wine Festival can be regarded as a variant and a revival of ancient festive manifestations of worship in honour of Dionysus, the god of wine, and Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. During these feasts people worshiped their gods, but primarily enjoyed themselves.

2-Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia (The Grape Harvest Festival) takes place annually in Mendoza Province, Argentina

It is one of the most important festivals in the country attracting large numbers of tourists to the region. It is a world renowned celebration of wine and the winemaking industry.

Each of the 18 departments in Mendoza Province prepare for the festival in the early months of the year. The main event occurs in the first week of March in Mendoza city featuring hundreds of dancers and performers, the selection of a "Reina Nacional de la Vendimia" (National Vendimia Queen) and a large firework display.

3-The Feria Nacional de San Marcos (San Marcos Fair) is a national fair held in the Mexican state of Aguas Calientes

Every year for three (or sometimes four) weeks. Most of the events related to the fair, however, occur in the city of Aguascalientes, the state capital. The exact date of the fair varies every year but is set around April 25, the Feast Day of San Marcos.

Initially the fair was tied to the vendimia (harvesting of grapes) since wine production used to be an important activity in Aguascalientes. Nowadays, it is an important tourist attraction that is heavily associated with bullfighting and cock fighting. It is estimated that seven million people visit the fair every year and as a consequence hotels are usually filled to capacity, however some locals rent out their houses to visitors and go on vacation during this time.

4- Haro Wine Festival is a festival in the town of Haro in the La Rioja region of northern Spain

It is held every year in the summer and involves wine drinking competitions and contests and a Batalla de Vino (Battle of Wine) where wine is fired from water pistols.

The celebration takes place on June 29, the day of the patron saint San Pedro. The day begins at 7:00 am, with a procession of people old and young, dressed in white shirts and red scarves, all carrying jugs, bottles, botas and other types of containers filled with red wine. Led by the town's mayor, on horseback, the procession winds through the town to the Cliffs of Bilibio, where a mass is celebrated at the Hermitage of San Felices de Bilibio. After the mass a true free-for-all begins, with everyone tossing wine on each other until all are soaked from head to foot. There is a sea of wet, pink shirts everywhere. Then at noon everyone returns to town to celebrate at the Plaza de la Paz, followed by bullfights in the town's bullring. But the bullfights are only for the youth, and the "bulls" are actually just heifers.

5- Qormi Wine Festival is an event organized in Qormi Malta 

In the first week of September (since September 2005) by Kumitat Festi Esterni.

This incredibly popular social event has become a meeting place for thousands of wine enthusiasts who come along each year to join in the celebrations that are organized at the peak of the Maltese grape harvest. People from all walks of life look forward to this cultural event.

In 2008 over 10,000 people attended to this event!

This festival is organized in the streets of Qormi, in front of St. George's Parish Church. The two-day free event brings together a large scale organization with vast promotion all over the island.

Five exhibitions, ranging from wine, paintings, photo, floral and another of historical and cultural treasures found in Qormi, will be concurrently held during the Qormi Wine Festival, between the 5 and 6 September, turning the event into a holistic cultural experience in its own right.

6- The Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival 

Nominated on Queensland's Q150 Iconic list began as a small community event in 1994. By 2009, the Festival attracted close to 15000 patrons. Proceeds from the Street Tickets are donated to various Queensland charities.

Held traditionally on the Sunday of the Labour Day long weekend, the Festival features three stages on the street and entertainment in most of the 12 Caxton Street venues in the Brisbane suburb of Paddington. The Festival specialises in local Queensland seafood and wine and for the past 15 years has showcased a first-class line up of entertainment.

7- Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is one of Victoria’s hallmark events - Australia

Each March the festival celebrates Melbourne and Victoria’s vibrant food and wine culture in a fortnight-long program of over 250 events.  

Operating on a not-for-profit basis, the festival’s charter is to promote the quality produce, talent and lifestyle of Melbourne and Victoria, and to reinforce Melbourne as the food and wine capital of Australia.

Since its beginnings with a small program of events, the festival has grown to become known for iconic events including Langham Melbourne MasterClass, World’s Longest Lunch and Cellar Door at Southgate. For several years, the festival has recorded 300,000 visitors annually.

8- The Boston Wine Festival, USA

  Founded by Chef Daniel Bruce in 1989 is held annually at the Boston Harbor Hotel, is one of the nation's longest running wine and food pairing series. 

Spanning three and a half months and including multiple events each week, the Boston Wine Festival celebrated its twentieth anniversary in January 2009. Through the festival’s 20 year history more than 75,000 bottles of wine have been opened and Chef Bruce has never repeated a menu, totaling 3,000 different dishes at 750 dinners served

9-The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, California, USA

 Is held annually, the first weekend of June at Lake Skinner Recreation Area in the heart of Southern California Wine Country/Temecula Valley.

The event features morning balloon launches, evening balloon glows, wine tasting from more than 20 wineries, wine competition, food and wine pairing, concerts featuring country on Friday, Classic Rock and Rock on Saturday, and Jazz on Sunday.

There is also a giant arts and craft faire, kids faire, and fine art paintings on exhibit within the wine gardens.

10- Rheingau Wine Festival in Germany

Local wines and sparkling wine are the principal topics revolving around the Wiesbaden City Hall during this ten-day Rheingau Wine Festival in the month of August. The festival takes place in the immediate vicinity of the Wiesbaden palace square palace square, the square in front of the Marktkirche and the Market Square called “Dern’sches Gelände”. At 118 booths the Rheingau and Wiesbaden vintners offer their wine and sparkling wine and invite to discover the already well known and favored, but also new vintages. Every year thousands of visitors use this opportunity to get acquainted with the Rheingau Riesling Wines with all its various facets and flavours. Regional Specialities compatible with the wines are offered as well. A diversified musical program entertains the wine festival guests. Initiated more than 30 years ago by the Rheingau vintners, this Wine Festival has a long tradition.