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The Wine Battle of Haro, La Rioja

Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2011, the Haro Wine Battle, which attracts around 10,000 people every year, has become famous for its curious theme. The festival consists of the throwing of between 30,000 and 40,000 litres of wine as if it were a pitched battle.

WHERE AND WHEN?

In Haro, a municipality in La Rioja, located to the northwest, some 47 km from Logroño by road. Specifically in the Riscos de Bilibio area, about 6 km north of the town of Haro.

The battle takes place on the morning of 29 June, the feast of St. Peter.

ORIGIN OF THE FESTIVAL

This festivity could date back to the beginning of the 18th century. It was at that time that the hermitage in honour of San Felices de Bilibio (a saint who lived and died in this place) was built in the Riscos de Bilibio and the tradition of making a pilgrimage to this place began.

At the end of the 19th century, the pilgrims began to use wine to "baptise" those who were being initiated into the pilgrimage that year.

Over the years, the pilgrimage evolved into what is now known as the battle of the wine.thanks to the feast that took place during the pilgrims' lunch after attending mass at the hermitage. At that time (and now) lunches and feasts could not be understood without wine and it was not surprising that the broth ended up in the air, staining both sides. Already in 1949 this practice was commonplace, and this was the first year in which the throwing of wine gained the importance it deserved and the festival was renamed Batalla del vino (Wine Battle).

WHAT THE BATTLE IS ABOUT

The aim of the battle is to stain everyone you come across with wine. There can be no one left in Haro whose clothes have not changed from white to purple.

The festivities begin very early, around seven in the morning, when the groups of "warriors" start to climb from Haro to the Riscos de Bilibio, already dressed in pristine white and, of course, well loaded with precious ammunition because along the way they may encounter "snipers" who will treacherously stain them. Once at the top, although it is not the official start, the battle begins and wine is thrown everywhere.

Meanwhile, at around 9 a.m., the town's alderman opens the procession on horseback to the hermitage of San Felices de Bilibio to place the town's banner at the top of the peñas. Once the mass has been held at the hermitage, a rocket signals the official start of the battle and the charangas begin to liven up the crowd with their music.

battle of haro wine

When the ammunition runs out, between 10 and 11 a.m., the fiesta comes to an end and the warriors stop for lunch to eat the typical caracoles (snails) or chuletillas al sarmiento (cutlets cooked with vine shoots of vine shoots). When they have finished eating, they head back to Haro on a pilgrimage to the bridge over the River Tirón. They enter the town and do the famous "laps" around the bandstand in the Plaza de la Paz. To finish, everyone goes to the bullring to run the heifers.

haro bullringSuelta de vaquillas after the Batalla del Vino in the bullring.

RULES OF BATTLE

  1. All participants must dress in white and wear the typical red scarf of the fiestas.
  2. They have to smear, smear and smear, as fast as they can and in the best possible way.
  3. They must use approved weapons, such as water pistols, bottles (other than glass bottles), sulphate sprayers, cauldrons, wineskins, in short, containers that can hold liquids as long as they cannot cause damage.
  4. It is forbidden for the duration of the contest for the participants to stop laughing and singing.
  5. The musicians of the charanga will continue to play and liven up the party as long as there is wine left.
  6. In this battle there are no friends. If there is anyone still left in his white garb, he must be the target of all others.
  7. Have as much fun as you can.
  8. When people sit down to eat snails or grilled cutlets, the battle will be over.

haro rioja wine battleAuthor: By BigSus

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR ENJOYING THE PARTY

  • Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. As we said, you should wear white, but it's best to wear something old and white that you don't mind getting damaged.
  • Protect cameras, mobile phones and valuables with plastic if you don't want them to get wet, dirty or damaged.
  • Look for accommodation in advance, as these festivals attract thousands of people.
  • Look for accommodation in advance, as these festivals attract thousands of people.
  • Enjoy the party in a responsible and respectful manner. Drink in moderation and do not endanger your safety and the safety of others.

ATTENTION FAMILIES!

If you have children under the age of 18, they can take part in the children's wine battle, which has been held since 2004, on 26 or 27 June, depending on the year. Instead of using red wine, the children use butts full of red must and at lunch they are given chocolates and biscuits. Of course, they also do "las vueltas" and, enlivened by the charangas, they run with bigheads in the Plaza de San Martín.

haro batalla wine

If you feel like living a different experience, don't miss the opportunity to have fun at this curious party, a spectacle worth seeing, VIVA EL VINO!

Vivanco
Winery, Foundation, Experiences. Sharing Wine Culture

4 comments

  1. Ahaha!!! Completely crazy this battle but with an incredible atmosphere!!!! We are on the 3rd picture!

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