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The traditional grape harvest of La Geria captivates hundreds of visitors during the La Caridad festival
The traditional grape harvest of La Geria has once again become one of the most anticipated events of the summer in Lanzarote. On Friday 15th August, hundreds of locals and tourists participated in the grape collection using camels, a tradition celebrated during the feast of Our Lady of Charity and the Catholic commemoration of the Assumption of the Virgin.
The grape harvesting with camels, a living tradition
From the early hours of the morning, local farmers, accompanied by the camels Blanca and María, recreated the cutting and transportation of grapes in the style of ancient generations of grape growers when the sector had not yet been mechanised.
The audience, amazed at the unique landscape of volcanic holes protected by stone walls, continuously photographed and filmed the scene.
The grape harvest routine, complete with traditional weighing on the old counter scale of Bodega La Geria, was repeated three times, alongside the crushing of grapes in the press, where both children and adults participated.
The cultural and heritage value of La Geria
Óscar Noda, the mayor of Yaiza, emphasised the importance of this celebration: “Keeping the tradition means reminding the younger population of the hard work involved in reconstructing the landscape of La Geria after the volcanic eruptions, thanks to the efforts of women and men with the help of camels. Today, that legacy remains alive in a territory that amazes the world”.
For his part, Daniel Medina, councillor for Celebrations, highlighted citizen participation and the youth’s interest in learning about the history of wine in Lanzarote. Additionally, the Yaiza Council joined the tribute to the veteran winemaker Germán López Figueras, a key figure in the modernisation of the island’s wineries.
A harvest marked by scarcity
Despite the success of the festivities, the wine sector faces a challenging year. As explained by Ramón Melián, director of Bodega La Geria, the 2025 harvest will be small due to the water stress that the plants are experiencing, combined with a cold spring that affected budding and flowering.
Production is expected to be significantly lower than in years of abundance, although the price per kilogram of grapes will exceed 4 euros, figures never before seen in Lanzarote.
Music, devotion and tradition
The celebrations began on Thursday with a tenderete at Bodegas Rubicón, animated by the folk groups Sondemar and Janubio. The main day, Friday 15th, included mass at the historic chapel, the traditional grape harvest, and a performance by the folk group Pal’ Porrón.
In the afternoon, another mass was held along with a folk offering by the Agrupación Rubicón de Yaiza.
The feast of La Caridad in La Geria once again demonstrates that the traditional grape harvest of Lanzarote is not just an agricultural activity, but a living cultural heritage that unites history, faith, music, and community in an unparalleled landscape.
