The production of raisins from Muscatel grapes is, together with vine cultivation and wine production, one of the most significant productive activities in the Axarquía region, in Málaga. Practically all the raisins in Malaga are grown in this region, with raisin production concentrated in small, mainly rural villages. The different stages of the production process are carried out manually: plantá (placing), volteo (turning), levantá (collecting), picá (chopping) and criba (sieving).

Once the grapes have been harvested after the vendimia (grape harvest), they are transported to the paseros or toldos (drying canvas), areas for drying and transforming the grapes into raisins. The grapes are spread out for raisining in these small installations on the sunny slopes. These areas are usually owned by a farmer or by a small number of neighbours. They are scattered in rural areas and close to the small farmhouses that serve as temporary housing for the farmers during the harvest and raisining period.

The process of transforming the grapes into raisins involves laying the bunches of grapes in the toldos or paseros, leaving them to dehydrate under the sun. After this time, the rotten grapes are removed and the bunches are turned over to dry evenly. During the night, the paseros are covered with a tarpaulin to prevent humidity and rain.

The raisining process lasts approximately three weeks and is usually carried out between September and October, depending on the heat and the degree of ripeness of the grapes.

The raisining process is a know-how and a model of treating and processing raw materials, to such an extent that raisins and paseros have become elements of local identity.

Coinciding with the vine-growing areas, the main raisin-producing areas in the Málaga region of Axarquía are, in the western area, the villages of Almáchar, El Borge, Moclinejo, Cutar and Iznate, and in the eastern area, Arenas, Corumbela, Sedella, Salares, Canillas de Albaida and Cómpeta. In these areas the evidence of its production can be found in the landscape, where the scattered paseros can be seen.

Period/occurrence

Seasonal. The production of raisins is closely linked to the grape harvest, the main months for production being September and October. However, on some occasions and depending on weather conditions, the first raisins can be seen in the last week of August, lying on the paseros.

Proceso de tendido de los racimos de uva en el secadero. Photo: Marc Ballester i Torrents. © Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico

IAPH image under the conditions established under license cc-by 3.0 de Creative Common. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Proceso de tendido de los racimos de uva en el secadero. Photo: Marc Ballester i Torrents. © Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico

IAPH image under the conditions established under license cc-by 3.0 de Creative Common. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Detalle del secadero de pasas. Photo: Marc Ballester i Torrents. © Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico

IAPH image under the conditions established under license cc-by 3.0 de Creative Common. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Uvas secándose al sol. Photo: Marc Ballester i Torrents. © Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico

IAPH image under the conditions established under license cc-by 3.0 de Creative Common. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Canal Sur Turismo. (206). La uva de la Axarquía, la moscatel de Alejandría. El Borge. Málaga. [Video File].

Reference:
Instituto Andaluz del Patrimonio Histórico. Marc BALLESTER I TORRENTS, Atlas del Patrimonio Inmaterial de Andalucía. Fase 1. Zona 10. Producción de pasas, 2009.