Updated March 2021
La Batalla del Vino
The best wine festival in the world is in Rioja, Spain; more fun than any wine event you’ve ever been to.. promise. Thousands of eager party goers dress in all white and head into the mountains at dawn, armed with wine-filled super soakers, Bota bags, spray bottles, buckets and jugs.
After everyone has gathered, the fight commences. Those once-clean white shirts and pants are now soaked completely with purple; and for the next 24 hours.. there is music, dancing, pinxtos and lots of vino! But let’s back up a bit and paint the entire picture.
Where is the wine fight in Spain
Tucked away in the northern Spain is a wine region called Rioja. The signature grape grown here is the bold and tannic Tempranillo. Lots of new, American oak is used during aging, in order to soften the tannins.
These wines age extremely well and you can pick some up relatively inexpensively. Here are a few of our favorite producers in Rioja:
Rioja makes it easy to broadly gauge quality. The bottles are labeled Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Grand Reserva, depending on the total time aged in oak and bottle with the longest being Grand Reserva. As you can guess, the price moves accordingly with the designation.
How to find the wine fight in Spain
The hub of Rioja is an adorable little town named Haro. Roughly 320 miles Northwest from Barcelona, your best bet to arrive in Haro is via car (5 hrs+) or train (5 hrs). There is also a bus for the cost cutters but it’ll take a long time.
In Haro, the narrow, winding will be at times disorienting, as you wander from pintxo (or pincho) joint to another.
What is a Pinxto?
You may be more familiar with the term “tapas”, or small bites; Pinxto or Pincho is just the northern Spain way of saying it. An example of a pintxo is patatas bravas — crispy potatoes smothered in a spicy sauce. Or a tortilla — cheesy omelet with potatoes and onions. A personal favorite is Gambas al Ajillo — seared shrimp in garlic.
These are very small bites and usually cost a few euros per piece (or more for larger plates). This is great because you can “pinxto hop” from one little spot to the other. No need to sit down, just order at the counter. And of course, wash it down with a nice glass of Rioja’s local vino.
When is the Haro Wine Fight festival in 2021?
In 2021, La Batallia de Vino is scheduled for June 26 – 30, COVID permitting. The 29th is the main event, but the party spans several days and on the nights leading up, you’ll find the town packed with tourists from all over the world, sharing drinks with locals and singing along with the Spanish marching bands.
On the night before the main event, many folks will stay up and party right through the night. We recommend getting at least some sleep though, since the party continues after the fight early the next day!
Best place to stay in Haro for the wine fight
So how do you join? Well the hardest part is getting housing. Similar to large events like Oktoberfest, where places in Munich book up well in advance. Except Haro is tiny, and Airbnb / hotel supply is meager.
I met the nicest couple in the world in Haro and they have since become mi familia de España, visiting them on multiple occasions. They run an Airbnb in Haro and if you’re a solo traveler, I can’t recommend them enough. You can see their listing here.
For multiple travelers, I’d recommend booking hotel rooms near the town square. There is also camping available during the week’s festivities.
Do I need a ticket for the San Vino Wine Fight Festival?
No! Just show up! Really, housing is the only hard part about this. Once that’s dialed in, the rest is cake. Go get yourself some sparkling white clothing (that you don’t mind getting destroyed) and a vessel for shooting wine out of.
We recommend buying high quality super soakers and Bota bags, as the town’s toy stores are limited. Bring plenty of euros for the pintxo bars during the weekend, as many owners won’t take credit cards.
Nearby attractions
So you’ve fought the wine fight and you’re ready for more. Assuming you’re not a local, you probably traveled a good ways to this tucked-away region. So, here are some ideas for what to else to do in the country:
- Wine tasting: This is a no brainer since you’re already in one of the world’s finest wine regions! See our recommendations above for bodegas to start with. Reservations are recommended for tastings and some tours are given in English upon request.
- San Sebastian: More Michellin star restaurants per capita than any city, so it’s no wonder why foodies love it. If you enjoy the pincho experience in Haro, then definitely make a stop in San Sebastian.
- Barcelona: Right up there with Tokyo and NYC, this is my favorite city in the world. Food, nightlife, beaches, weather, music, art, history.. you name it.
- Running of the Bulls (San Fermin): The first day is normally early July, which is conveniently shortly after Wine Fight. I did both back to back in 2018 and had a blast!
