Festa do Vinho 2001 in Catas Altas, MG
1st Festa do Vinho
The year 2001 marked the beginning of one of the most beautiful and symbolic cultural traditions in Minas Gerais: the Catas Altas Festa do Vinho (Wine Festival). Held from May 18 to 20, the 1st edition celebrated artisanal jabuticaba wine, a drink with centuries of history that symbolizes the identity and pride of the people of Catas Altas.
Organized by the Catas Altas town council in partnership with the newly created Aprovart (Association of Wine Producers and Family Farmers), the festival was created to celebrate the work of local producers and revive traditional winemaking — a tradition dating back to the 19th century, when growing jabuticaba replaced mining as the town's main livelihood.
With simple but meaningful facilities, the first edition was a real success and marked the start of a journey that would turn Catas Altas into a national reference for food, wine and cultural tourism.
The first producers and the festival setup
Held at Praça Monsenhor Mendes, in the heart of the historic center, the 1st Catas Altas Festa do Vinho had a charming setup of ten stalls covered in wooden bark slabs. The rustic, welcoming setting reflected the essence of the event: simplicity, authenticity and pride in its roots.
Ten artisanal wine producers and one liqueur maker took part, presenting their products under standardized labels, a symbol of unity and equality among participants. Nine stalls went to the wine producers and one was reserved for the liqueur maker.
The participants in the first edition were:
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Ana Virgínia Hosken Viegas
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Caraça (Caraça Sanctuary)
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Eder Ayres Siqueira
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Elias Paulo Lobão
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Gercina Emília de Souza
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Maria José Batista Bento
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Nereu de Souza
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Ornelinda da Conceição Hosken Barbosa
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Rita Maria Corrêa de Queiroz
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Tarcísio Telésforo de Souza
Liqueur maker: Ana Maria Siqueira Muniz
One curiosity of the first edition: stall number nine was shared by Rita Maria Corrêa de Queiroz and Eder Ayres Siqueira because they had fewer bottles available — a gesture of cooperation that reflected the supportive, community spirit of the event.
Queen, princesses and the charm of the celebration
The tradition of the Wine Queen, which would continue in later editions, began in 2001. The first court was made up of three young women from Catas Altas who became icons of the festival's history:
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Queen: Luciana Machado
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1st Princess: Antônia Serpa
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2nd Princess: Gisele Oliveira
The crowning of the Wine Queen symbolized the prestige and pride of the community, representing the beauty and strength of the women of Catas Altas. The parade and sash ceremony moved the audience and became one of the most memorable moments of the program.
Music, culture and community spirit
The music program of the 1st Festa do Vinho featured local and regional artists, who entertained the crowd over the three days with Brazilian popular music, viola (country guitar) and Minas Gerais rhythms.
Without big national acts yet, the event charmed people with the closeness between audience and musicians, creating a friendly atmosphere that would soon become one of the festival's trademarks.
Besides music, cultural performances, dances and recreational activities involved residents and visitors, strengthening the community's sense of belonging and its appreciation of the region's rural and religious traditions.
Flavors and artisanal jabuticaba wine
Even in its first edition, the Festa do Vinho stood out for its food. Visitors could taste artisanal fermented jabuticaba wine, made with care and tradition by local producers.
The stalls also offered quitandas (Minas Gerais baked goods), cheeses, homemade sweets and traditional dishes prepared by local families, creating pairings that went perfectly with the artisanal wine.
This combination of wine, food and culture was one of the pillars of the festival from the start and would become one of its biggest tourist attractions in the years that followed.
Organization and legacy of the first edition
Community organization was the key to the success of the 2001 Festa do Vinho. With the support of the Catas Altas town council, Aprovart and the residents themselves, the event managed to combine tradition and innovation, opening a new chapter in the town's cultural history.
Despite modest facilities, the result exceeded all expectations: crowds turned out, producers sold almost all their wine, and the town saw the birth of a celebration that would strengthen its identity and make its name known throughout the state.
The success of the first edition ensured that the festival would be held every year and inspired the growth of later editions, which gained better facilities, more visitors and more recognition — without ever losing the community spirit of that first festival.
A toast to history
The 1st Catas Altas Festa do Vinho was more than an event: it was the milestone of the town's cultural rebirth.
Among simple wooden stalls, glasses of artisanal wine and Minas Gerais music, a tradition was born that is still alive today — celebrating the work of producing families, the talent of local artists and the pride of a town that learned to turn its history into flavor, culture and unity.
In May 2001, Catas Altas toasted the future with the wine of its roots — and that toast still echoes today, as a symbol of love for the land and respect for the traditions that unite its people.
