Ah, Ica! Nestled in the sun-drenched southern region of Peru, it is famed for its golden dunes, storied past, and – most importantly – its love affair with grapes.
Welcome to the Festival de La Vendimia de Ica, a festival where tradition and revelry collide, and every grape seems to have a personality of its own. This grape harvest festival will be held from the 7th to the 17th March.
Are you in? So, grab a glass of pisco, wine, or cachina, sit back, and join us for an adventure into one of Peru’s most delightful and whimsical cultural celebrations!
The Origins: From Vine to Pisco
Firstly, we’d like to tell you a little history: the word “vendimia” comes from the Latin “vindemia”, a blend of “vinea” (vineyard) and “demere” (to pluck).
Essentially, it means harvesting grapes—the timeless act that transforms humble fruit into the ambrosia of the gods: wine and pisco.
Pisco and wine production are an important part of Ica’s tradition and economy. Accordingly, it has become an annual festival that honors the hard work of local vintners and celebrates the magic of the harvest.
Since its start in 1958, La Vendimia de Ica has grown from a modest tribute into a spectacular event. Over the years, a simple meeting of grape lovers has grown into a lively festival.
It draws visitors from all around, eager to see history, culture, and some grape-fueled fun. La Vendimia is much more than just a grape-harvesting event; it’s an exuberant celebration that locals celebrate every March in the heart of Ica.
Consequently, the region’s vineyards come alive, and the community joins in a colorful and joyful celebration.
Picture a carnival full of cultural pride, fun parades, and educational workshops!. There’s also some friendly competition, all focused on the humble grape!
Meet the Star: The Vendimia Queen
One of the festival’s crowning glories (pun intended) is the crowning of the Vendimia Queen. Each year, talented and charismatic women from across the region compete for this coveted title.
As the queen represents the harvest spirit, she has to be more than just a pretty face. You’ll see her join in the traditional grape-stomping ceremony.
Elegance meets playful tradition as she steps into a vat of grapes to extract the juice that becomes liquid gold. It’s a moment that marries beauty with the age-old ritual of celebration.
Grape Stomping: More Than Just a Mess
Following, let’s get a little messy—literally. The grape stomping ceremony is one of the festival’s most entertaining and symbolic events.
While modern machinery has taken over most of the crushing work, nothing beats the charm of doing it the old-fashioned way.
Here, participants stomp on grapes with wild abandon, channeling their inner dancer. People describe this practice as a jubilant, sometimes hilarious, romp through history. So, it’s a reminder that even in a modern world, tradition—and a little bit of silliness—still rules the day.
The Grand Parade: A Carnival of Colors and Flavors
No festival in Ica would be complete without its grand parade—a moving feast for the eyes and ears. During this vibrant procession, decorated floats (each more creative than the last) glide through the streets, accompanied by spirited music and lively dancers.
Every float tells a story: from the origins of grape cultivation to the secret recipes passed down through generations.
It’s like a traveling museum where the exhibits burst into dance and cheer. You might even get a shower of grapes thrown your way!
Culinary Delights: More Than Just a Toast
A celebration is only as good as its food, and La Vendimia de Ica does not disappoint. The festival offers a cornucopia of regional dishes designed to tickle your taste buds. Here’s a taste of what you might expect:
Tejas and Chocotejas: These delightful confections—filled with creamy manjar blanco and draped in a layer of sugar or chocolate. All of them are as irresistible as they are iconic.
Manjar de Pallares and Mazamorra de Uva: Traditional desserts that capture the essence of the harvest, combining local ingredients in a symphony of flavors.
Carapulcra with Sopa Seca: A hearty dish (it’s in the picture)that showcases Ica’s rich culinary heritage, including Afro-Peruvian roots and robust flavors in a celebration of indigenous traditions.
The Star Beverages: Let’s not forget the wines, piscos, and cachinas (a fermented grape drink). These beverages are crafted with such care that every sip tells a story of passion, craftsmanship, and a dash of magic.
Modern Twists on Timeless Traditions
While La Vendimia de Ica reveres its past, it’s also a festival that embraces modernity. The 2025 edition, celebrating its 60th anniversary, introduced several innovative events to the mix:
FIVIARTE Mural Contest: Local artists were invited to transform the city into a sprawling gallery, with murals inspired by the rich history of vineyards. Therefore, this art meets agriculture in a way that’s as visually stunning as it is thought-provoking.
Festival of Songs: Musicians and composers took to the stage to perform original works celebrating the harvest, infusing the festival with new melodies that echo through Ica’s streets.
Exhibition of Peruvian Paso Horses: These elegant horses, renowned for their smooth gait, strutted their stuff in an exhibition that highlighted the region’s unique blend of cultural heritage and natural beauty.
The largest toast in the world with Cachina
For the second year in a row, Ica held the world’s largest toast with cachina, which took place in the city’s main square.
The Nyrla Lévano winery donated over 250 liters of fresh grape juice and distributed more than 5,000 glasses of cachina for the largest toast.
Therefore, to get more than 250 liters of cachina, over 700 kilos of Quebranta variety pisco grapes were required. The toast was a great initiative, but what exactly is cachina? Although it is not as popular as wine or pisco, cachina is a traditional Peruvian drink
Cachina is made from grape must, which is the juice pressed from grapes. This drink ferments for 7 to 15 days, then people can enjoy it within 30 days. As a result, cachina boasts a fresh, fruity flavor, standing out in grape-rich areas like Ica.
Did you know? Its name might stem from the Quechua term “kachi naq” (tasteless), hinting at its milder taste compared to robust wines.
A Festival for All the Senses
Imagine a day at La Vendimia: the streets echo with traditional music, spontaneous dance breaks erupt around every corner, and the tantalizing aroma of local cuisine fills the air.
Whether you’re marveling at the colorful parade, getting involved in the grape stomping, or simply enjoying a quiet moment with a glass of pisco, the festival offers something for everyone.
It’s an immersive experience that delights all your senses and leaves you with memories as rich as the region’s wines.
La Vendimia de Ica is a living celebration of history, culture, and community spirit, wrapped in a package of humor and joy.
It’s an event where every grape tells a story, every dance step is a tribute to tradition, and every laugh is a reminder of life’s simple pleasures.
So why wait? Mark your calendar, and prepare to immerse yourself in a celebration where tradition meets entertainment, and every moment is as flavorful as a well-crafted pisco or cachina!
Finally, remember you can join the fiesta at la Vendimia de Ica with Viagens Machu Picchu! We do guided tours around the wonderful destinations in Peru.
Feel free to contact us, so we can give you details about everything you should know. The adventure in Ica and Peru awaits!
Viagens Machu Picchu, journeys that inspire, moments that last.