Barcelona to host Vermut & Soul fair from May 6 to 8

Barcelona’s Port Olímpic will be the site of the Vermut & Soul celebration from May 6 to 8. Boasting the “the best” ‘vermut’ or vermouth, there will be live music, food, workshops and other fun activities around one of Catalonia’s favorite drinks.

These will include sailing, live music, as well as dance classes - all while enjoying some ‘vermut’, obviously. 

The Vermut & Soul fair will start on Friday at 5pm until 11pm. On Saturday, visitors can enjoy vermouth from 11am to 4:30pm, and from 5pm to 11pm, while on Sunday, the fair will close at 9pm. 

Tickets, which cost €3.50, can be purchased online. 

‘Vermut’: More than just a drink in Catalonia

Vermut comes from fortified red or white wine, with herbs and alcohol being added later in the process. The drink is so popular, that a lot of wine cellars and bars produce their own variety to sell to thirsty customers.

It is then served in short glasses filled with ice, a slice of orange, and an olive on a stick. Olives also often accompany the drink, as do other little snacks such as anchovies and cheese. 

Many bars in Catalonia, especially in Barcelona, are called ‘vermuteries’ and are dedicated to selling vermut and anything that goes with it. 

L’hora del vermut

The ritual around ‘vermut’ has become so popular in Catalonia that it has arguably even superseded the drink.

For instance, the phrase ‘fer un vermut’, directly translating to ‘do a vermouth’, has now grown to refer to the general activity of going for a mid-day catch-up with friends at a bar. Often, no one will even order the drink, but rather spend time enjoying a beer or some tapas instead. 

In Catalonia, lunch is usually around 2 or 3pm, so anytime before then is time for a vermut.