Wine and jazz festival brings global stars to Catalonia

The Banco Sabadell Vijazz Penedès 2019 festival celebrates its 13th edition this July 5, 6, and 7, and will bring huge names from the world of jazz to Catalonia including Archie Sheep, Madeleine Peyroux and Monty Alexander.

The stellar lineup also sees Arturo O'Farrill and Antonio Lizana, Damaris Gelabert and Elia Bastida & Joan Chamorro Quartet come to Vilafranca del Penedès this summer.

Festival organizers explain that the festival combines the quality of the wines and cavas from the Penedès region with free concerts of icons of the world of jazz.

The artistic director, Pere Pons, highlighted the association of wine and jazz, but also that of Vilafranca and jazz that is still alive and well. "There is a heartbeat that lives in the city all year round that blossoms in a very special way every year for 13 years with this Vijazz celebration."

Pons also spoke of the importance of the organization of the festival for "quality, popularity, transversality and exclusivity".

In the Elles and Jazz space, in the cloister of Sant Francesc, and accompanied by a glass of cava, you can enjoy the performances of three great Catalan jazz groups: Muriel GrossMan Quartet, Elia Bastida & Joan Chamorro Quartet and The Sey Sisters.

Tasting wines

The Vijazz Penedès Sabadell Wine Fair will allow you to sample more than 300 wines and cavas from the local region. Max Margalef, president of the Tastavins Academy, explained that without the wine fair, the jazz festival could not have come to life, since "its roots come from the world of wine."

This year they have made contact with, Margalef explains, all the cellars and the ever-increasing range of products from the territory.

"This year we have looked for a more comfortable space for tastings and we will offer them with cheeses, chocolates and ham, and will also make a tasting with fruit."