Wine battle in Haro — the most interesting events of the wine festival in Spain

Batalla del Vino de Haro is the largest wine festival event in Spain. Every year it attracts thousands of tourists who want to take part or at least watch this unbridled fun.

Haro Wine Festival

The Haro Wine Festival is a fun summer celebration. It takes place on June 29 in the city of Haro in the La Rioja region of Spain. Its main and most anticipated event is Batalla del Vino, during which participants pour red wine on each other.

It all starts early in the morning – at about 7 a.m. a procession of those who arrived for the wine festival, led by the mayor, heads to the chapel of San Felices de Bilibio (about 6 km north of the city). They deliver wine to the battle site. At the same time, its participants must be dressed in white clothes.

The path leads to the top of Riscos de Bilibio, where the chapel is located. Here the mayor celebrates mass, and then launches a rocket – this is the signal for the start of the Haro Wine Battle. From this moment on, an unbridled fiesta begins, and white clothes quickly turn into purple. Everything is used to douse the largest number of people, bottles, water pistols, sprayers, jugs, wineskins, and all kinds of containers from which you can splash wine.

Protect your eyes and smartphone while participating in the Haro Wine Fight.

Having let off steam and emptied all their containers, a little drunk, but happy and laughing people return to the city. Here the festivities continue with music and dancing. After changing their wet clothes, snacking on pintxos, and washing them down with the famous Rioja wine, everyone heads to the next entertainment – bullfighting. This spectacle does not use angry bulls, but young cows that chase people. In this case, the animals do not suffer but create a cheerful atmosphere. This is how a long tradition is observed but without any violence.

La Rioja is a wine-producing region in Spain, so a visit to the Haro festival can be combined with excursions to bodegas.

History of the Haro Wine Festival

The history of the Battle of Wine in Aro is not reliably known. One version says: that in order not to be absorbed by Miranda de Ebro (a neighboring settlement), the inhabitants of Haro had to officially mark their borders. This was done on St. Peter’s Day. The tradition continued from year to year, but in the 17th century, a dispute arose, as a result – neighbors began to sort things out by pouring wine on each other. Later it became entertaining and was called Batalla del Vino en Haro.

The first official mention of the custom of pouring wine in Haro occurred in 1949 in an article by Enrique Hermosilla Diez for the newspaper La Rioja. Thus, the popularity of the local holiday began to acquire wider boundaries.

In 1965, for the first time, The Ministry of Information and Tourism of Spain awarded the holiday the honorary title of Festival of Tourist Interest.

Interesting Facts

• The city of Haro is one of the main wine producers in the region. Up to 40% of all Rioja vineyards are located on its territory.
• About 5,000 people take part in the Batalla del Vino de Haro.
• At the Haro Wine Festival, more than 40,000 liters of red wine are poured during the battle.
• The Haro Vino Festival in 2011 received the highest award and already received worldwide recognition. It was given the status of “Festival of International Tourist Interest”.
• Since 2004, the Children’s Wine Battle in Haro has been held on June 26 and 27. This takes place in the Plaza de la Paz in Haro, where children are given containers of red liquid. They then make a short pilgrimage to the Fairgrounds, where the battle takes place. After this, all children receive a treat – cookies and chocolate.
• The Hermitage of San Felices de Bilibio (XVIII century) is a place of pilgrimage. In the 4th-5th centuries the hermit Felicius, who was canonized after several miracles of healing, lived here.

Where to stay in Haro

There are several good hotels in Haro, but during the period when the region’s most famous festival is taking place, there may not be any places available. Therefore, make sure to make your reservation in advance. Additionally, it should be noted that during the warmer months, tourists travel to Haro to visit its many tapas bars and wineries.

How to get to Haro Spain

Haro is located in the La Rioja region of Spain and can be reached in several ways.

By car from:

• Logrono – 47 km along A-68;
• Vitoria – 50 km along A-1 and N-124;
• Burgos – 91 km along AP-1;
• Bilbao – 91 km along AP-68 (there is a toll section of the road);
• Pamplona – 127 km along Autovía Camino de Santiago/A-12;
• Zaragoza – 215 km along AP-68 (there is a toll section of the road);
• Madrid – 336 km along A-1;
• Barcelona – 516 km along AP-7, AP-2 and AP-68 (there is a toll section of the road).

By direct train from cities:

• Logrono;
• Burgos;
• Barcelona;
• Bilbao;
• Zaragoza.

By direct bus from cities:

• Bilbao;
• Vitoria-Gasteiz;
• Madrid.

FAQ

Where is the Haro Wine Festival taking place?

The wine festival takes place in the city of Haro (La Rioja, Spain).

When did the Battle of the Wine in Haro begin?

Not known for certain. There are several versions, one of them says that the festival arose from a dispute between Haro and the neighboring town of Miranda de Ebro several centuries ago.

On what day is the Haro Wine Festival celebrated?

The Wine Festival and Wine Battle takes place annually on June 29 (after the end of Peter’s Lent)

How long does La Batalla del Vino last?

The wine battle continues for over an hour or until the wine runs out.

What happens during the Haro Wine Festival?

Its participants pour red wine on each other and have fun, and there is also a bullfight.

Read also: Guide to Haro – the city of wineries and wine festivals

Haro on the map

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