September on the Rioja Alta Wine Route: the grape harvest is here

September is synonymous with the grape harvest on the Rioja Alta Wine Route. This year, moreover, the vine’s growth cycle has come earlier than usual and the grape harvest is now well underway across much of the region. The vineyards are in full swing and the wineries are experiencing one of the most intense and exciting times of the year.

If there is one particularly interesting time to visit Rioja Alta, it is this. For a few weeks, everything revolves around the grapes: teams working amongst the vines, tractors travelling along the tracks, trailers arriving at the wineries and the first musts of the new vintage beginning their journey.

The grape harvest is not just the most important moment in the wine-growing calendar. It is also an exceptional opportunity to understand everything that goes into a glass of Rioja.

Rioja Alta in the midst of the grape harvest

Throughout the year, the vineyards shape the landscape and also set the pace of life in our villages. But during the grape harvest, that connection becomes much more apparent.

Activity in the vineyards begins first thing in the morning. The grapes are selected and picked at their peak, and shortly afterwards, the bunches arrive at the wineries, where a new process begins, full of decisions, hard work and patience.

For those who visit us, September offers a chance to experience a different side to Rioja Alta. The wineries are in full swing and the landscape presents a scene that can only be enjoyed for a few weeks each year.

Our partners’ offerings

As well as soaking up the atmosphere of the grape harvest, September brings new experiences to round off a break in Rioja Alta.

On 18 September, Viña Ijalba launches its ‘Copa en Mano’ grape harvest experience, a tour for small groups offering the chance to explore the winery in full swing and taste the wine at different stages of its production: from the first must to its development in tanks and barrels. The experience, available on Fridays and Saturdays until the end of November, concludes with two premium wines and a Riojan appetiser.

And on 11 September, Finca Valpiedra is offering ‘A Night Under the Stars: A Journey Through the Universe’. The evening will begin with a tour of the winery, a wine tasting and an aperitif, and will continue, as night falls, with stargazing through a telescope and a guided tour of the stars, constellations, planets and other celestial bodies.

Strolling through the vineyards at one of their most special times

September also invites you to get out into the open air. Temperatures are starting to cool, and exploring the country lanes allows you to observe at close quarters a landscape in the midst of transformation and, at this time of year, the hustle and bustle of the grape harvest.

Hiking, cycle touring, e-bike rides or local trails are just some of the ways to combine wine tourism with nature and discover Rioja Alta from a different perspective.

And after a day out and about, there’s always time to sit down for a meal, pop into a wine bar or quietly enjoy a glass of wine.

Villages, cuisine and time to relax

The grape harvest is much better understood when you also discover the region where the wine is produced.

Exploring the villages of Rioja Alta, taking in their heritage and savouring the local cuisine rounds off a getaway where wine is the common thread, but not the sole star of the show.

Restaurants, bars, specialist shops and local producers are all part of an experience where wine and gastronomy inevitably go hand in hand.

Stay the night: the grape harvest deserves more than just a day

A visit lasting just a few hours isn’t enough at this time of year. Rioja Alta boasts charming hotels, country cottages, flats and other accommodation options that will turn the grape harvest into a proper getaway.

Staying overnight in the region allows you to plan your visit at a leisurely pace: visit a winery, walk a trail through the vineyards, explore several villages, enjoy a good meal and let the day draw to a close without watching the clock.

September and October are particularly busy months, so it’s advisable to book both your accommodation and any activities well in advance.

Experience the grape harvest on the Rioja Alta Wine Route

The grape harvest takes place every year, but it’s never exactly the same. Each vintage is shaped by the weather, the vineyard and the work carried out over the preceding months.

This year it has started early and Rioja Alta is already in the thick of the harvest. It’s the perfect time to see it up close, visit the wineries, stroll through the vineyards, sit down to a meal and discover the region at one of its most authentic moments.

Find accommodation, book your visits and experiences, and come and experience September on the Rioja Alta Wine Route.