When is the Colchagua Vendimia (harvest festival)?

The Colchagua Vendimia is always held on the first weekend of March. It is the event that marks the official start of Chile's harvest season.

What happens during the Colchagua Vendimia?

The Vendimia includes grape stomping, tastings of new wines, live music, local gastronomy, handicrafts, guided vineyard tours, and the election of the Harvest Queen — a tradition maintained since the festival's early years.

Where does the Colchagua Vendimia take place?

The main event is held in Santa Cruz, the provincial capital, but many of the 19 member wineries organize parallel activities at their own estates during the same weekend.

Do I need to book in advance for the Vendimia?

Yes. Hotels in Santa Cruz and the surrounding area sell out months ahead. If you plan to visit in March, book accommodation at least 3–4 months in advance. Tickets to the main event also sell out.

Is the Vendimia suitable for children?

Yes, it is a very family-friendly event. Grape stomping is an activity children absolutely love. There are food stalls, handicrafts, and outdoor activities that make the day accessible for the whole family.

The Colchagua Harvest Festival: the celebration that opens the season in Chile

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On the first weekend of March, the Colchagua Valley celebrates the Vendimia: the harvest festival that officially opens Chile's wine season. It is the most alive moment of the year in the valley — the grapes have accumulated the full ripeness of an entire summer and the countryside smells of ripe fruit.

Why Colchagua fires the starting gun

Vendimia — from the Latin vindemia, grape harvest — is the moment when the vine delivers its fruit. In the Southern Hemisphere, the harvest takes place between February and April, the reverse of the European cycle.

Colchagua holds the distinction of being the first valley to open the official harvest season publicly. The first weekend of March coincides with the peak of the harvest in the valley, and the festival is organized so that any visitor can experience the harvest from the inside.

What happens over the weekend

The main event in Santa Cruz brings thousands of visitors together in an open-air venue featuring:

Grape stomping — the most photogenic and popular activity. Participants take off their shoes, step into a lagar (a wooden or stone vat) filled with freshly harvested grapes, and stomp to extract the juice. You finish with purple feet and a smile that won't go away.
Wine tastings — the 19 member wineries present their wines of the year, including some that are not available outside the festival.
Local gastronomy — empanadas, barbecue, chicha de uva (lightly fermented grape juice with minimal alcohol), and seasonal dishes.
Music and folklore — cueca, the national dance, takes center stage. Folk ensembles and local bands liven up the venue.
Election of the Harvest Queen — a tradition maintained since the festival's early years.

At the wineries: many of the estates organize their own parallel activities during the same weekend: tastings with the winemaker, hand-harvest tours through the vineyards, and picnics between the vine rows.

How to plan your visit

Book accommodation months in advance. This is the busiest weekend in the valley all year. Hotels in Santa Cruz fill up 3–4 months ahead. Your options:

Hotels in Santa Cruz (the first to sell out)
Lodges at the wineries (full immersion experience, premium price)
Airbnb in rural farmhouses in the valley
Hotels in Rancagua or San Fernando and driving in (45–60 min)

Tickets: the main event in Santa Cruz has limited capacity. Tickets go on sale online from November–December.

For those who can't make it in March

The harvest remains active from February through April. Many wineries offer private harvest experiences throughout the season: cutting grapes in the vineyards alongside the winery team. It is more intimate than the big festival — and sometimes even more special.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Colchagua Vendimia (harvest festival)?: The Colchagua Vendimia is always held on the first weekend of March. It is the event that marks the official start of Chile's harvest season.
What happens during the Colchagua Vendimia?: The Vendimia includes grape stomping, tastings of new wines, live music, local gastronomy, handicrafts, guided vineyard tours, and the election of the Harvest Queen — a tradition maintained since the festival's early years.
Where does the Colchagua Vendimia take place?: The main event is held in Santa Cruz, the provincial capital, but many of the 19 member wineries organize parallel activities at their own estates during the same weekend.
Do I need to book in advance for the Vendimia?: Yes. Hotels in Santa Cruz and the surrounding area sell out months ahead. If you plan to visit in March, book accommodation at least 3–4 months in advance. Tickets to the main event also sell out.
Is the Vendimia suitable for children?: Yes, it is a very family-friendly event. Grape stomping is an activity children absolutely love. There are food stalls, handicrafts, and outdoor activities that make the day accessible for the whole family.