Moclinejo festival promises 2,000 litres of wine, 500 kilos of grapes and €1 paella

Moclinejo is preparing itself for one of the Axarquia’s biggest celebrations of wine, grapes and farming traditions, with more than 2,000 litres of wine and 500 kilos of grapes set to be enjoyed during the XXVI Dia de Viñeros on Sunday, September 13.

Thousands of visitors are expected to head to the village for a day celebrating the generations of farmers who have kept the region’s Moscatel grape traditions alive.

Wine, grapes and traditional Axarquia food

Festivities begin at 11.30am with the Blessing of the Grapes, followed by the opening speech at 12.30pm from Antonio Salado Muñoz.

Traditional stalls will offer wine, grapes, cured meats, hornazos and borrachuelos, while visitors can watch demonstrations of grape pressing, crushing, sieving and drying at the traditional lagar.

A wine tasting hosted by Bodegas Antonio Muñoz Cabrera will also take place, while five female artists will turn wooden wine barrels into works of art during the ‘Arte a pie de viña’ live painting event.

Music will come from the Banda de Musica Nuestra Señora de Gracia and the Panda de Verdiales de Moclinejo, adding plenty of local character to proceedings.

€1 paella and a very Spanish afternoon

Food will take centre stage at 3.30pm when a popular paella will be served for just €1, with proceeds going to a local association. Electroduendes and Malamanera will provide live music later in the afternoon, followed by the election of the Mister and Dama de Viñeros.

Gaditan comedy group Los Company will bring the day’s entertainment to a close at 8.30pm.

Families can also make use of a free children’s play area from midday until 6pm, while guided tours and cultural venues, including the Sala de Exposiciones Antonio Segovia Lobillo and Museo Bodega Antonio Muñoz Cabrera, will be open.

With thousands of litres of wine, hundreds of kilos of grapes and a €1 plate of paella, it seems Moclinejo has decided that moderation can wait until Monday.