Mallorcans love wine so much that they continued making it even during the ban under Arab rule. Before the insect invasion in the end of the 19th century more than 40,000 hectares of Mallorcan land were used for growing grapes, while today it is only about 2,500. Despite this, grapes are as important in Mallorcan agriculture as almonds and olives.
The end of the grape harvest is a highly expected moment for all winemakers, as this marks the beginning of the creation of new wines. In the middle of September, Festa des Vermar gathers thousands of people in the small village of Binissalem. This place is famous because of its wine industry. If you order wine in Palma, it has likely been produced near Binissalem. The area is home to many Mallorcan grape varieties, like Manto Negro, Caye and Moi. The festival is famous for several activities—wine tasting, grape treading, grape battle, and the supper with Fideus de Vermar. Festivities are kicked off by Dionysus, the god of the grape harvest, appearing at Binissalem's central square.
Grape treading and Grape Battle
Grape treading competitions take place in Plaça de l´Església. Groups of people have 3-4 minutes to tread as much juice as possible from two bags of grapes. They can only tread barefoot and hold each other's shoulders. The grape battle usually starts after noon on Saturday. Grape throwing is quite similar to the famous tomato fight in Valencia, but it attracts mostly the Mallorcan youth as participants, while elders enjoy watching this from the sidelines. For those who decide to participate in the wine battle, it's common to wear white linen clothes. But make sure to put on apparel that you won't regret staining, as things might get quite messy. The grape battle ends with a massive traditional feast for the whole village. The central dish is Fideus de Vermar, which consists of slow-cooked lamb, spices, and fideua noodles. The dinner is cooked for approximately 1400 people who participated in wine treading festivities.
Wine Fair and Other Highlights
The Binissalem wine fair, where you can taste Mallorcan wines, usually takes place at Parc de Sa Rectoria. Tastings feature both new wines that have been just made from the latest harvest and old wines from past years. Many samples are available for free. The last day of the festival also features traditional Mallorcan attractions in the main square. The most impressive event is the parade of Binissalem giant puppets, accompanied by xeremiers or bag-pipers. The colorful giant puppets look like an elderly couple, which is a symbol of aging and wisdom. The devils' fire run or correfoc is also very popular. A group of youngsters dressed as devils dash through the center of the village, lighting up fireworks.
