The
traditional treading of the grapes took place yesterday in Jerez as part of the
Fiesta de la Vendimia celebrations and those of the Consejo’s 80th anniversary.
The event took place at the façade of
the cathedral where the municipal band played and the Dean of the cathedral
blessed the grapes in the name of San Ginés de la Jara, patron saint of
vintners. Council dignitaries were present as were those of the Consejo.
Harvesters
lined up with their baskets of grapes which they poured into the lagar where
four men wearing “zapatos de pisar” (boots with nail-studded soles) began the
age-old process of treading 1,000 kilos of Palomino. After about 15 minutes the
lagar’s tap is opened and the juice runs into jarras (bodega jugs), through a sieve
and into a butt. It takes an hour and a half of constant treading, back and
forth to complete the exhausting job. The resulting wine goes to the Consejo’s
own bodega San Ginés.
