The Gredos Wine Harvest Festival: a charitable event
On September 28, Carlos Casillas (Barro) is organizing a day in Ávila focused on wine, gastronomy and music to recover what the fire destroyed.
The effects of the fires that affected the Sierra de Gredos last summer have been catastrophic, both for the landscape and for the people who live in this territory, as well as for the wines produced in the area.
Although it is still too early to measure the long-term consequences of a disaster of this magnitude, some of the repercussions the area is already experiencing include the loss of historic plots; the damage to historic farms and estates that saw their infrastructure, machinery, and facilities damaged; and the damage the fire has inflicted on the harvest, directly destroying vines that were about to bear fruit, or altering their organoleptic characteristics due to the effect of smoke, known as "smoke taint."
Objective: to restore Gredos
For all these reasons, the initiative led by Carlos Casillas, chef and owner of the Barro restaurant in Ávila, seems particularly timely. He has decided to transform the traditional Gredos Wine Harvest Festival into a celebration with a strong charitable focus. On September 28th, gastronomy, wine, and music will come together in Ávila with a common goal: to raise funds for the Gredos Vivo Platform, which works to restore the area affected by wildfires.
The day will kick off at 7 p.m. with a wine fair featuring a wide selection of wineries from Ávila, along with guest projects such as Barbeito, Niepoort, and Pepe Rodríguez de Vera. This selection will be expanded in the coming weeks, and the event will maintain one of its defining characteristics: the "sobaquillo" (a small, informal wine-sharing) tradition. Attendees are encouraged to bring a bottle to share and discover new wines with everyone.
Music and wine to start the party
Wine will therefore be one of the main attractions of a festival that also aims to celebrate the region and demonstrate that top-tier gastronomic and cultural activity doesn't have to be concentrated in major cities. Music will round out the program, with live performances and DJ sets under the artistic direction of singer Jorge Marazu and The Winedrinkers. Quike AV and DJ Luismi are also part of the lineup, in a program that will continue well into the night.
At 9 p.m., one of the highlights of the day will take place: an exclusive dinner hosted by Carlos Casillas himself, featuring several other chefs and restaurants who have joined this initiative. Confirmed participants include Gofio, Insurgente, El Bar Valladolid, Roostiq, and Impulso, with more establishments to be announced soon. All of them will collaborate with Casillas on a menu designed specifically for the occasion.
Where can I buy tickets?
Beyond bringing together chefs, wineries, musicians, and enthusiasts around a single table, the event aims to contribute directly to the recovery of the Gredos region. Ticket sales will go to the Gredos Vivo Platform, supplemented by funds raised through auctions of special wines and unique bottles donated by wineries and partners.
Gredos Vivo's work includes, among other initiatives, integrating vineyards into fire prevention and rural development strategies, restoring abandoned vineyards, promoting specific incentives for mountain viticulture, and incorporating the wine-growing landscape into forestry planning. The goal is to reinforce the role of vineyards as a tool for protecting the land, strengthening rural communities, and building a more resilient landscape in the face of large wildfires.
Thus, this year's Gredos Wine Harvest Festival is conceived as more than just a celebration of wine. It is also a way to highlight a region that needs to recover some of what it has lost and to reclaim, through gastronomy, wine, and culture, the value of what makes it unique.
