The first grapes may be picked a week early, especially if the weather has been very dry and sunny. Frequently the vintage is a week late and lasts about a month. The programme each year s different but it usually starts with a Grand Procession on the Friday. The Queen of the Vintage occupies the seat of honour and is surrounded by her handmaidens, all chosen from the beaut ful girls of Jerez, wearing white dresses and blue silk scarves, representing the white chalky soil and blue sky that give life and body to the vines. With pomp and ceremony they are driven through the streets on carts decorated with grapes and foliage.
Children swarm by, hoping to catch sweets thrown down from the floats and by courtiers.
Men from the town bring up the rear wearing festive masks. The fiesta is always ded cated to the honour of some individual or country where where sherry is popular. In 1956 it was dedicated to England and Shakespeare. During the next few days both public and private part es fuel the atmosphere of rejoicing, day and night. There are bullfights in honour of the ladies of Jerez with the finest toreros, with young bullfighters and even a comic bullfight.