When it comes to Spain's quirky festivals, the tomato-flinging frenzy of La Tomatina is popular across the globe. The festival has featured in several films, including the Bollywood movie 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', and every year, people plan their trip to attend this festival. However, there is another similar fascinating event in Spain that many may not know of. It's - La Batalla del Vino, or The Wine Battle.
Every July 29, the small town of Haro in the heart of La Rioja, Spain's renowned wine-producing region, stages the Wine Battle celebration. The concept of the festival is similar to the Holi celebration in India, but instead of water and colour, people dump buckets of wine on each other.
What To Expect At The Wine Battle In Spain
The festivities kick off early at 7:30 am, when Haro's mayor and the members of the San Felices Brotherhood lead a ceremonial pilgrimage to the Bilibio Cliffs, home to a small hermitage dedicated to San Felices, the town's patron saint, according to CNN. To reach the hilltop where the festivities take place, participants are transported part of the way by buses. After a traditional Mass at the hermitage, a rocket signals the start of the real spectacle: a full-blown wine fight.
The local government supplies massive wine tankers, some holding up to 15,000 litres, and overall, as much as 50,000 litres of wine is flung during the celebration. Participants dressed in white outfits and red scarves douse one another with red wine, sprayed from water guns, buckets, and bottles. Within minutes, everyone is stained in shades of deep purple, all aiming to outdo each other. The goal of the festival is to stain your neighbour with wine, leaving them darker than the Pendon de Haro, a banner associated with the town of Haro.
How Did The Wine Battle In Spain Begin
Though it may seem like a chaotic and frenetic event, the festival has deep historical and cultural roots. Legend traces its origins to 6th-century religious pilgrimages to San Felices' burial site. Over time, the solemn rituals turned into festive luncheons, where revellers began playfully splashing wine on one another, much to the dismay of some early participants. Women, in particular, were hesitant to attend, fearing their clothes would be ruined. By 1949, the wine-throwing had become so common that the term Wine Battle appeared in local documentation, and its popularity has only grown since.
Another version of the story links the origins to a 12th-century land dispute between Haro and nearby Miranda de Ebro. Locals would walk the boundary line between towns to prevent encroachment. According to folklore, this was said to have lasted over 400 years until it was disregarded, and both sides started throwing wine at each other.
Also Read: 7 Summer Festivals In Europe You Can't Miss In 2025
Is It Not A Waste Of Precious Wine?
It might look like a lavish waste of good wine, but organisers clarify that the wine isn't suitable for bottling, as it is not of high commercial value. It is often low-grade or leftover stock. After the event, most of it seeps into the soil or is washed away by rain, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
Also Read: This Special Fountain In Italy Flows With Red Wine, And It's Free
Wine Battle: A Growing Global Attraction
What once began as a local tradition has now grown into a global phenomenon. Thousands of tourists descend on Haro each year, lured by viral social media clips and the promise of high-spirited chaos set against scenic Spanish countryside.
Whether you're a wine lover or a festival enthusiast, the Battle of Wine in Haro promises a one-of-a-kind experience that is messy, boozy, fun and memorable.
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