The celebration, held on August 15th, the day of the Virgen de La Caridad, featured Andrés and Aída, two camels aged 15 and 12, who became the focal point of the harvest. Attendees enjoyed the surroundings of the La Geria winery, where children and adults alike participated in treading over 300 kilos of listán blanco grapes in the old wine press.
Groups of visitors accompanied farmers and camels to nearby vineyards, observing closely the grape harvesting process and the challenges of picking the fruit from the deep pits characteristic of La Geria.
“"An unmissable event in La Geria to stage the traditional grape harvest with the important figure of the camel, an animal key to the construction and conservation of the landscape, alongside the undeniable work of the women and men farmers of our land who, with effort and ingenuity, shaped this beautiful and productive marvel that continues to captivate locals and strangers alike."
The mayor of Yaiza, Óscar Noda, present at the event, highlighted the importance of the camel and the work of local farmers in shaping this productive landscape. Meanwhile, the head of Festivities, Daniel Medina, reviewed the patron saint's festivities, describing them as 'two intense days of community gathering,' which included a popular 'enyesque' on Friday and a solemn mass and offering by the Rubicón Folk Group on Saturday.
Ramón Melián, director of the La Geria winery, noted that the forecasts for the Lanzarote harvest are excellent after three years of low yields. 'We had a good, rainy winter, and the vines in Lanzarote... have responded after a couple of years of drought. It's producing a lot of healthy, good-quality grapes,' he explained, expecting to collect around 400,000 kilos at his winery.
The Yaiza City Council thanked the wineries La Geria and Rubicón for their collaboration, the support of viticulturists and the camel sector, as well as the participation of residents, tourists, and the involvement of the parish and the AF Rubicón.
