Battle of Wine — Haro Wine Festival
The Battle of Wine in Haro (La Rioja)
This Monday, June 29th, was the Battle of Wine, La Batalla del Vino, in the village of Haro in Rioja, and though I didn’t go, I want to share with you this fun and crazy Spanish tradition.
Each year, people from Haro, and nowadays people from all over the world, get together on a hilltop called Riscos de Bilibios (6 km from Haro) to commemorate a battle that happened here a long time ago with neighboring village Miranda del Ebro. This tradition has taken place since the beginning of the last century.
On the morning of the 29th, there is a mass in a small, old church, and then the wine battle begins… People in white clothes show up with plastic jugs of red wine, botas (leather bags filled with wine), or other ‘weapons’ that hold wine, and squirt and splash each other until everyone is soaked and purple.
Luckily they don’t use Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva wines!! Just young wine from that year’s vintage and mostly bulk wine.
Here’s a video that shows exactly what I’m talking about:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_3i31s-om0]
Afterward, everyone returns to town and gathers around the plaza de la Paz where the festivities continue and purple, sticky people dance, sing, eat and drink.
If you’re ever in Rioja around this time of the year, and you love wine, this is the place for you.
Hasta mañana!!
Rocio
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