On September 28 and 29, 2013, the usually quiet town of Binissalem will hold its annual Grape Throwing Festival. This weekend will kick off celebrations that extend up to two weeks afterward. The food fight occurs almost daily. This festival is the only grape throwing festival in the world.
Mallorca is one of the islands in Spain’s Balearic archipelago and is in fact the largest in the island group that is located in the Mediterranean Sea. Many people take the direct flight to Mallorca to see this yearly feast. Others start out from Valencia or Barcelona and take the ferry to the island from there.
Off to the fields!
This fiesta of grapes starts out with a runner after a rocket launch leads his eager followers to a field where potential grape-dodgers gather every year. They gather around a heap of grapes of the variety called the “manto negero,” and then they throw them at each other at a signal from town officials. First time participants ought to wait for that whistle blow that officially marks the start of the grape throwing.
Mallorca’s “Festa des Vermar” is not just about throwing grapes at each other. It also involves a lot of grape stomping. There is also a lot of wine drinking for sure since Binissalem is a wine-growing town. There was a time in the past when only locals were allowed to participate but these days visitors can throw as many grapes as they can manage. They can also drink as much wine and join the party.