The Balearic island of Mallorca is known for its hip and happening bars and clubs, its luxurious villas and yachts as well as for being the summer playground of the Spanish Royal family. While basking in the late summer sunshine, this iconic Spanish island deeply steeped in tradition also offers the discerning tourist a chance to experience medieval Spanish custom, and wine, at its best.

In early September, the Mallorcans celebrate La Festa des Vermar, a harvest party to celebrate the beginning of the grape picking season. The epicentre of the festival is the historic town of Binissalem, just 12 miles inland from Palma.

The picturesque medieval streets of the town are decorated with traditional colours and a vast array of entertainment is set up for nine days, perfect for both local revellers and enthusiastic spectators. The festival commences with the grape harvesters being welcomed at the Town Hall to the sound of Mallorcan music. Thereafter the town comes alive with open-air gatherings, dancing, music, chess contests, processions and wine tasting competitions. There is also a musical match, where the contestants are required to challenge each other to come up with satirical songs relating to local issues. However, the most interesting and iconic occurrence at the festival is the frantic grape-crushing competition, where locals challenge each other to who can crush more grapes in a set amount of time. Another event worth sneaking a peek at is the grape battle that takes place between hundreds of children in the outskirts of town. Beware that the children are not very accurate with their grape throwing, so be prepared to become an unwitting target for the locals!

No wine harvest party would be complete without litres of local wine and food to line the stomach. The main dish for the fiesta is the Fidus de Vermar, Grape Harvest Noodles. The noodles and mutton are prepared in large iron vats all over town, and are of course washed down with vast amounts of local wine.

If you wish to twin your sundrenched holiday with a taste of Spanish medieval traditions, copious amounts of wine and perhaps partaking in the celebration of the new grape harvest, flythomascook operates regular flights to Palma de Mallorca from several UK airports. For all you wine lovers out there, La Festa des Vermar is a festival not to be missed.