This is me in the midle of the battle, but I tell you now how everything started...
As you haven’t read me around here yet, let me introduce myself: My name is Carmelo and I am part of Vintae's team. Usually, the winery Castillo de Maetierra is what keeps my mind busy, but these past few days what has really made me lose sleep, literally :), has been Haro's fiestas. I am from Haro and, of course, like everybody else from there or even some people from elsewhere, I ended up at the "batalla del vino", a fiesta celebrated every 29th of June at Riscos de Bilibio and that coincides with the feast day of San Pedro.
The origin of this fiesta is unknown, as real history is confused with popular history and it has come to a point where nobody can tell what came first, the egg or the chicken. Well, let me tell you both versions. The first version dates back to the 15th century, when the citizens of Haro marched to the Riscos de Bilibio in Procession, a place located 6 km from Haro, in order to celebrate a mass in honour of San Felices de Bilibio. This procession ended in a party in which everybody threw all the wine they were carrying at each other, and from there it has evolved up to the present day.
The second theory, which is the most popular, is that, in that century, there were several disputes with the neighbour city Miranda de Ebro, mainly fighting for the property of Riscos de Bilibio. It is not because I am originally from there, but Haro won the dispute. Following this victory, it was then declared that from that moment onwards Riscos would belong to the city of Haro as long as they celebrated the traditional mass in honour of San Felices de Bilibio and the subsequent Batalla del vino on the 29th of June of every year. It was also decided that the first year nobody from Haro marched up to the mass, the territory of Riscos de Bilibio would become part of Miranda de Ebro.
Both versions have some part of truth, but however, nowadays, it is a fiesta that can’t be missed if you have the opportunity to attend.
Let me explain what it consists in exactly:
The fiesta starts on the 28th of June in the afternoon, where you have some pinchos and drink some good wine.
The following day, on the 29th of June, around 8.00 in the morning, starts the procession towards Riscos de Bilibio, where the people sort out a way of getting there, some go by car, others by van, tractor, cart......
A mass is celebrated at the Ermita de San Felices, and when it is finished, a rocket bomb is released indicating the beginning of the Batalla, where the tired and half-asleep people, from the night before, start a wine frenzy that gives the meaning to “every man for himself”. The battle lasts for around 2 or 3 hours, which is then followed by a tasty brunch. After the battle, a good old fire to dry your clothes is essential and, while you are at it, why not make some tasty lamb chops.
After having had lunch and drying out, we return to Haro, where the traditional “VUELTAS” take place. This basically consists in dancing around the city to the rhythm of brass bands until reaching the bullring, where the brave, and, why not admit it, those slightly oblivious to the situation, dodge and pass heifers (in which more 
than one has had a scare).
Then comes lunchtime, which in my opinion is the icing on the cake. We traditionally eat escargot. Ask whoever you want; they will tell you that the best escargot in town is prepared at their home. I, of course, as a genuine local, say, “The best escargot is prepared at my home, hahaha”.
Well, I hope we have encouraged you to come to this fiesta, because I promise you won’t regret it. It is an experience you will thoroughly enjoy and that you will never forget.
Here you can see some pictures of the battle, but if you would like to see all of them, visit our photo gallery, at least you will smile! 🙂
Aquí podéis ver algunas fotos de cómo discurrió el día, pero si queréis verlas todas, entrad en nuestra galería de fotos, ¡como mínimo vais a sonreir! 🙂
Clothes end up with a nice rosé color but finally nobody ended up injured after the battle so... see you next year
