Haro

Haro is a small town situated in La Rioja and is about 40km from Logrono. Both claim to be the capital of Rioja, Haro is certainly smaller but we think its the best place to get a real Rioja experience. They also have a crazy wine battle which was the main reason we visited.

Our first campsite experience on the trip turned out to be a good one, check out our beautiful home for the next 2 weeks.

One of the first branches of the Bank of Spain was opened in Haro, mainly because it was one of the first towns in Spain to have electricity. It was one of the wealthiest towns because of the wine trade and its good transport links.

There seems to be a running trend of mannequins or cardboard cut outs on balconies all over Spain

Cool window displays

In the main Plaza, barrels from all the Haro Bodegas

Blood of Christ, help yourself

All the roundabouts had a wine theme, this was our favourite

Pre-wine battle and we're dressed traditionally. The whites last about 5 minutes once you arrive at the battle, it's also 6.30am which is why we look cold and tired.

We caught a bus that took us up to Los Riscos de Bilibio, a mountain about 5km from Haro

People bring all sorts of weapons to spray wine everywhere. Locals were using crop sprayers, mop heads, paint rollers and water guns. Carrie had a tiny water pistol bought from a pound shop and we also used plastic water bottles which were a bit more effective.

About 8,000 people turned up and roughly 120,000 litres of wine was sprayed. It was probably more!

Post wine battle, looking refreshed.

There was a parade which went through the town which included local bands and all the wine battlers

Some were on tractors and there were lots of leafed up carriages

We made the local paper, queueing up for the bus on the way back

There are plenty of Bodegas to visit and most are situated in Barrio de la Estacion. We visited four, the first being Rioja Alta

Some of the older Bodegas make their own barrels this is a dying tradition.

The lids to the vats where fermentation occurs

Altas tunnel of Gran Reservas.

Our next visit was to C.V.N.E, most people call it Cune.

A different angle of the fermentation tanks, raised off the ground so that temperature is easier to control

Once fermented, the wine is then aged in oak barrels

This is C.V.N.Es special wine cellar, where they have a bottle of every single vintage they have released. Cobwebs and damp rule here.

The older Bodegas still have the original lighting instruments when electricity was installed. They are very proud that this was one of the first towns in Spain to have electricity.

Another classic.

The next day we started off at Roda, quite a new up and coming winery built on an old site

An example of the old part

and one of the new. There barrels are quite unique with the stripe in the middle

The back of the Bodega is next to the Rio Ebro where, before the railway was built, wine was transported out of Rioja.

View of Haro, spot the 'Hollywood' style letters.

Our final visit was to Lopez de Heredia, one of the oldest wineries in Spain. The shop was designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. 

This was taken out of a shop, opened in early 1900s, owned by the same family that started the winery.

This stand was originally built in 1910 and was restored and placed in the new tasting room

Clouds forming over the mountains, this is an example of La Riojas very unique climate system.

If you're into wine, you have to visit Haro.