Batalla del Vino de Haro (Haro Wine Battle) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Rioja calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year.
The Haro Wine Battle is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Rioja calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at the Riscos de Bilibio in Haro, in the heart of one of Spain's most distinctive wine areas. It has been running since 1290, with a long unbroken local tradition behind it.
A centuries-old tradition
Thousands of participants in white clothing climb the slopes of the Riscos de Bilibio at dawn on 29 June to drench each other in red wine using buckets, water pistols, hoses and hand-pumps. The tradition has its roots in a centuries-old land dispute between Haro and the neighbouring village of Miranda de Ebro, formally documented since 1290. Today's editions draw both Spanish and international visitors. The event is organised by the Ayuntamiento de Haro, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
The day's events
The battle is preceded by a procession to the Hermitage of San Felices and followed by all-day celebrations in Haro's Plaza de la Paz, with brass-band music, dancing, traditional Riojan food, and tastings of the area's wines from the Barrio de la Estación houses.
About the Rioja region
Rioja is Spain's most internationally known wine region and one of only two Denominaciones de Origen Calificada (DOCa) — the country's highest classification. The region stretches along the Ebro Valley across three administrative areas (La Rioja, the Basque Country and Navarra) and divides into three sub-zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja). Tempranillo is the dominant grape, blended with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo for the reds, while Viura is the main white variety. The region's traditional ageing classification — Joven, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva — has since been adopted across other Spanish regions.
Dates and practical information
The 2026 edition is scheduled for 29 June 2026. Entry is free, with optional paid tasting passes or guided sessions available on site. The full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
Getting there and local cuisine
Rioja is reached most easily via Bilbao or Madrid, with the high-speed AVE train connecting Madrid to Logroño in under four hours. Logroño is the regional capital and Haro the historic wine-trade centre, with the Barrio de la Estación neighbourhood concentrating many of the most-visited wineries (López de Heredia, CVNE, Bodegas Bilbaínas, La Rioja Alta and Muga). Riojan cuisine pairs the wines with patatas a la riojana, lamb chuletillas grilled over vine clippings, white asparagus from Navarra, and the pintxos culture of Logroño's Calle Laurel.
