Haro: Your Guide to the Wine Capital of Rioja
Haro is a small town with a big reputation. Tucked into the Ebro Valley in La Rioja, it is a must for wine lovers. Visitors come for the historic cellars and stay for the tapas. Meanwhile, the pretty old town is perfect for a slow wander. This guide covers what to see and do, when to visit, where to stay and how to get there. If you want to explore further, read our guide to the wine regions of Spain. Grab a glass, and let’s dive in.
What to see and do
Start in the Barrio de la Estación, also known as the Station District. It sits beside Haro’s railway station and holds some of Rioja’s oldest wineries. Trains once carried Rioja wine to the wider world, so the cellars grew up around the tracks. Today, several of them sit within a short walk of each other. As a result, you can visit more than one bodega in a day.
First, book a tour at R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia. Founded in 1877, it is among the oldest bodegas in Rioja. Inside, you will wander through atmospheric historic cellars. Outside, the glass tasting shop by Zaha Hadid catches the eye. Tours are small and usually in Spanish, but English visits are available on request. Book well ahead. Buy tickets and skip the queue.
Next, try La Rioja Alta, which dates from 1890. Nearby, CVNE goes back to 1879, and Bodegas BilbaÃnas opened in 1901. Bodegas Muga is also in the district and welcomes visitors for tours and tastings. Each bodega has its own style, so pick one or two that suit your taste. Pre-booking is wise, especially in summer. Buy tickets and skip the queue.
After the cellars, head up into the old town. Plaza de la Paz is the heart of Haro. Locals meet here, and cafés spill out onto the square. Just nearby, the church of Santo Tomás is worth a look for its ornate stone doorway. Take your time, as every lane hides a bar or a bakery.
When hunger strikes, follow the crowds to La Herradura. This tangle of lanes around Calle Santo Tomás and Calle de la Virgen de la Vega is packed with tapas bars. Try patatas a la riojana, a hearty potato and chorizo stew. Naturally, pair it with a glass of local red.
If you have extra time, explore the nearby villages. Briones is home to the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture. San Vicente de la Sonsierra has a castle with wide views over the Ebro Valley. Laguardia sits just across the border in the Basque Country and has walled streets. Meanwhile, Santo Domingo de la Calzada lies on the Camino de Santiago, and its cathedral keeps a live rooster and hen.
Local festivals and traditions
Haro’s best-known event is the Batalla del Vino, or Wine Battle. It takes place every 29 June, on the feast day of San Pedro. Thousands of people climb to the Riscos de Bilibio, a rocky hill outside town. First, a short mass takes place at a hermitage on the hill. Then the wine starts to fly. Wear white, as tradition says, and pack a change of clothes. You will be purple by lunchtime!
Another June highlight is the Cata del Barrio de la Estación, or Station District Wine Experience. Seven historic wineries open their doors for a huge tasting event. It has even won a wine tourism award. Tickets can sell fast, so plan ahead.
Later in the year, Haro honours its patron, the Virgen de la Vega, in early September. Expect parades, music and lively street parties. Then, from late September into October, the grape harvest begins. The vines turn golden, and the whole region buzzes. It is a lovely time to visit, but hotels fill up fast.
Where to stay
Haro is compact, so you can walk almost everywhere. Even so, the area you choose shapes your trip. Here are the best options for different kinds of visitor.
For atmosphere, stay in the old town near Plaza de la Paz and Calle de la Vega. You will be steps from the tapas bars of La Herradura. Small hotels and apartments here put you in the middle of the evening buzz. However, weekends can get lively, so light sleepers should ask for a quiet room.
If wine is your priority, pick the Barrio de la Estación. The bodegas sit a short stroll away, so you can walk back after your tastings. It is also much quieter at night. The walk into the old town takes around ten minutes.
Want something special? Eurostars Los Agustinos fills a 14th-century convent close to the centre. It sits in a calmer corner, yet the main square is still an easy walk away. Therefore, it suits couples and anyone after a little history with their wine.
For a rural feel, look at nearby villages such as Briones or San Vicente de la Sonsierra. You will need a car, but you will wake up among the vines. Whichever you choose, book well in advance for the Wine Battle in June and the autumn harvest. Search properties with Free Cancellation on Booking.com.
How to get to Haro
The easiest gateway is Bilbao Airport, roughly an hour and a quarter away by road. Alternatively, Logroño-Agoncillo Airport is closer, but it has fewer flights. Both airports have good road links to Haro. Check flights and Buy Tickets with Booking.com.
Hiring a car gives you the most freedom for visiting wineries and villages. You can collect one at either airport. Remember that Spain has strict drink-drive limits, so choose a designated driver. Hire a car with Discovercars.
Driving is simple. From Bilbao, take the AP-68 motorway towards Logroño, then follow the signs for Haro. Vineyards roll past the window along the way. From Logroño, the trip takes under an hour. Already in Spain? Get directions.
Haro also has its own railway station, right beside the wineries. Regional trains link the town with Logroño and Miranda de Ebro, where you can change for other routes. Services are limited, so check times before you travel. Check Train Schedules and Buy Tickets on Omio.
Buses are often the simplest choice. Services run to Haro from Bilbao, Logroño, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Burgos. Haro has its own bus station, so arriving is easy. Check Bus Schedules and secure your seat on Omio.