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Alternatively known as the Batalla de Vino de Haro, or San Vino, the Wine Fight is, quite simply, what the name suggests – a battle, with wine. Red wine, to be precise, from Spain’s La Rioja winemaking regions, one of the world’s finest. It’s also the first party of Stoke’s summer schedule, a somewhat underground Spanish fiesta, and a great excuse to get off the beaten tourist trail and into Spain’s wine country. A great festivals for travel junkies, wine lovers and party animals alike.

A very brief history of the wine fight

Like all ancient histories, and especially those soaked in wine, the story of the Wine Fight isn’t entirely clear. On one hand, they say the Wine Fight started when a land dispute between Haro, the village that hosts the battle, and neighbouring Miranda de Ebro was solved by marking the border between the two towns with purple flags. After a while the plentiful grapes in the region were used to stain the flags and somewhere along the line the fun-loving locals started throwing the grape juice at each other. Some say that the Wine Fight was borne out of a popular pilgrimage to the Cliffs of Bilbio, where the fight is held, that somehow devolved into pilgrims being baptised in wine. However it started, we glad that those first vino throwers had such a good idea. For a more detailed history of the wine fight, splash your way over here.

High quality red wine has been produced in the region since ancient times, predating the Romans, and Stoke Travel has been visiting this party for over a decade. The rest of the history includes you, soaked in red wine, having the time of your life.

Wine Fight itinerary

The day before the Wine Fight we have a cheese and wine fair, and the night before there’s a huge party in the town square, but you can read all about that here. What we’re focused on is the big day, the 29th of June. The Wine Fight starts around 8am, up the hill outside Haro, surrounded by the vineyards of La Rioja, underneath the Cliffs de Bilbio. To get there we join the procession of fighters walking up the hill, or try and grab a ride with one of the party tractors that ferries gangs of wine warriors up the scenic road. As we approach the mountainside you’ll begin to see rivulets of red wine running down the mountain, and as soon as you’re within range everybody will indiscriminately start showering you with red wine, some coming from the back of trucks brought up there just to supply wine for the fight, some from casks or bottles, some carted up in buckets and some preloaded into water guns. From there all you have to do is keep on soaking and being soaked in red wine, have a great time, dance to the bands that play throughout and if you’re feeling frisky take a hike up the cliffs to the small hermitage at the top and the unbeatable views across La Rioja.

Once the battle is done we make our way back down the hill and to the river and pool at the campsite, where we wash away the wine, eat and drink some more, and then join the townsfolk in the city centre, where the procession continues towards the bullring and foolhardy youths are chased by baby bulls. Don’t worry, none are harmed in this display of stupid bravery. No bulls, we mean. Plenty of people are harmed. That night there’s another party in the town square, this time with the locals running around carrying a metal bull statue that shoots fireworks from its horns.

Why fight with wine?

Because it just so happens that wine is the one things this part of the world has in surplus. There is wine everywhere in La Rioja and Haro is the capital of the region’s bodegas. Just walking around the town we are spoiled for choice in wines, with seemingly every storefront offering a great variety of outstanding wines at very good prices. Even if fighting with wine isn’t necessarily your style, just walking around and trying different wines and tasting the food on offer is one of the nicest things you can do.

And to the wine lovers out there who are outraged at this apparent waste of good wine, don’t you worry – this is the wine that was never of high enough quality to make the bottle. It’s the waste wine, and when you see it running down the hills and back into the vineyards it’s easy to imagine that this sacrifice of poor quality wine is why the region generally yields such delicious vino tintos.

Need to know more? Perhaps you should come and find out for yourself. 

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Texto, edición y grabación: MIKI ASTORGA Mientras grababa estas tomas para conformar este pequeño clip, el mar quedó en calma, todos sentados en sus tablas mirando al pico, cada uno pensando en sus cosas, pero muy pocos tenían en mente, que junto a él estaba surfeando un chavalín que va a ser el primer Asturiano […]
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TEXTO Y FOTOS: Ricardo Iparraguirre El pasado sábado 7 de abril, la gente de Drop In de Ferrol organizó una presentación, con motivo del lanzamiento de la versión en castellano, del libro de Tony Butt “La ciencia del Surf: Introducción al reconocimiento de las olas para surfear”. Tal y como nos comentaba Carlos Pita (que […]
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Hace tiempo que el gran surfer Chris del Moro no está tan metido en el foco mediático, un placer verlo deslizar en esta peli de Jason Baffa
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Este mes de mayo el shaper de San Diego (California) Josh Hall viene a europa a shapear unas semanas, una buena oportunidad, si andas detrás de una de sus tablas, Gliders, fishsimmons, longboards, midlenghts, eggs, ect… están en el catálogo de JOSH HALL SURFBOARDS. Os dejamos el contacto para cualquier consulta o encargo. Blend40@Wanadoo.fr  y teléfono […]
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The inevitable has finally happened. You’ve been dreading this day for awhile but the time has come. You’ve officially been cut off from your folks back home. No more handouts, freebies, cheques – anything. You’re officially on your own and you think that your travel plans for the summer are over. Lucky for you, you’re not alone and you’re plans aren’t ruined. Just because you can’t blow through loads of cash doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to go about your travels. We’ve all been in your shoes and we’re willing to provide a little insight on how we’ve made it through this tragic period in our lives.

Public Transportation Saves Lives and Bank Accounts

Fun fact…you don’t have to get a taxi everywhere that you go!!! It might come as a shock to some, but public transportation is actually a really useful invention that gets looked over by those with cash spilling out of their pockets. The dreaded form of public transportation is pretty similar in every city you go and with a little research, it can end up saving you some major cash that can be used toThe inevitable has finally happened. You’ve been dreading this day for awhile but the time has come. You’ve officially been cut off from your folks back home. No more handouts, freebies, cheques – anything. You’re officially on your own and you think that your travel plans for the summer are over. fuel your alcohol intake over the course of your trip – priorities. Plus, running to catch the last bus home for the night always leads to the occasional stumble and good laugh.

Stay Away From Hotels

Skip the hotel, it’s not worth it. That free continental breakfast doesn’t justify it and you would be much better off kicking it in a hostel or Airbnb. The size of your group is a good determination of whether you should grab an hostel or an Airbnb. The bigger your group is, the more likely it is you should grab an Airbnb. You’ll be able to split the cost down and typically Airbnb’s don’t mind you going over the guest limit, unlike hotels. If you’re in a smaller group with just a few mates, hostels are the way to go. It’s a proven fact that hostels will always be better than hotels no matter what. Typically you’ll end up meeting a few new pals, get a local viewpoint on the city, and most of the time you can luck out with a free breakfast to help you get back on your feet.

If you’re the type that likes to rough it outdoors, be sure to check out some of our festivals which provide the best camping experience!

Don’t Eat Out Every Fucken Meal

You can still fully immerse yourself in the culture without going out for every meal. Breakfast at an overpriced, boujie brunch spot is not going to be any better than a breakfast that you cook up at your Airbnb or hostel. When you and all your mates chip in, meals can be pretty cheap and you’ll be looking to only spend two to five euros, which sounds like a fucken deal.

Free Shit

We all love free shit and if you say you don’t, we know you’re lying. Look around on the handy-dandy web for free things that are offered in the city you’re headed to. A personal favorite of ours is free walking tours. Completely underrated but well worth the experience. You’ll get a first hand look at the city you’re in, learn a bit, and know the best places to head out to later at night.

The Most Obvious… Pregame

If you’re paying ten euros at the bar for a drink, you’re doing something wrong. This is one of those universal rules that should be followed forever and always. Pregame. Pregame. Pregame. Going to the local corner shop to grab that three euro bottle of wine will save you major bucks in the long run. Think about it this way, three bottles of wine at three euros will cost you a total of nine euros… and that is going to help you fuel your booze intake better than any overpriced, watered down drink at a club.

If you’re really looking to save some money while also having the best time of your life, check out our Stoke Passport which will provide four trips for the price of three! Save those pennies for things that matter, such as booze and good times.

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The crucible of Western civilisation done in under a month

Sam Livingstone, a 23-year-old Australian backpacker, has reportedly “done” Europe in a little under a month. The self-proclaimed traveller, who has previously only done continents closer to home, had always harboured a desire to visit the Old World.

“I just love travelling, I guess i’ve got a gypsy soul!”, the young backpacker declared, referencing the sometimes derogatory term used to describe Europe’s marginalised Roma minority communities. “I used to love going to Surfers Paradise as a kid, then I did Fiji and the US with my parents in my teens. As soon as I turned 18 I did Bali, Thailand, Singapore – basically Asia.

“But I’ve always wanted to do Europe. It was super high on my bucket list! Croatia, Paris, London. It’s so good because there are so many countries together, so I could tick a bunch off my bucket list at once. Before Europe I’d only done like six countries, if you count a stopover in New Zealand, but in Europe I was able to add 14 more in a pretty short time! Now I can tell everyone that i’ve done 20 countries, it feels like I’m part of a pretty exclusive club of global adventurers.”

Livingstone describes her final and definitive whirlwind tour of some of the world’s most cultural rich destinations. “So first we did the Greek Islands, just Ios, which was a crazy party, but we did the important things and got some Insta’ shots with the white walls. From there we did Italy – Rome, Pisa, Florence and Venice – and then caught the train to Paris. Did Paris for two days and then did London in three more, did Amsterdam overnight, then through Denmark to Sweden for two nights because a girlfriend is studying there. After that we did Berlin for a weekend, saw the wall and tried to get into Berghain, Vienna for a night and then did Switzerland in two days. Unfortunately after Switzerland we had to go through France again to get to Spain, so that was a bit of a waste, but we did two nights in Barcelona and then Portugal for three nights in Lagos. We flew from Lagos to Budapest, did that for a night, and then spent about a week on sail Croatia, so did that part of the world too. I wanted to do Prague but missed it, but I guess we did enough cities so how different could it be?”

Livingstone is dismissive of people who suggest that there’s no way on earth she could possibly consider Europe, with its immense diversity in environment, culture, history and politics, done after only spending four weeks on the continent. “I knew what I needed to do and I did it. All those people saying that I should spend more time exploring places obviously haven’t been to 20 countries and counting. I do cultural stuff too, like I spent an hour in the Louvre and we did some Gaudi shit in Barcelona.”

Having completed the complex and varied continent Livingstone now has her sights on more exotic locations. “Well I’ve got two weeks free next year so I think i’m going to do South America and Mexico. I want to do Africa, but that takes too much time so I might wait until I’ve got a month free.”

Do Europe with Stoke Travel, using our awesome Passport to tick four amazing festivals off your bucket list with just the one ticket.

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Located in Munich’s Obermenzing neighbourhood, Stoketoberfest is Stoke Travel’s Oktoberfest destination and by far our biggest event of the year. Stoketoberfest is Munich’s only all-inclusive accommodation option, Oktoberfest’s biggest party outside of the beer halls, a temporary home for more international partiers than anywhere else in Munich, a safe space where you are free to be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do, the meeting place for all of your new best friends, the place where our chefs line your stomach before and after a big day in the beer halls and the wildest dance floor this side of Ibiza.

Stoketoberfest is Stoke Travel’s biggest event of the festival season, a place where we can entertain, accommodate, feed, serve beer to, dance with, dress in lederhosen and dirndls, and, above all, get to know more than 2500 individuals on any given night, from 40-something countries and all walks of life, representing anyone from 18-years-old to their grandmothers (who come for free).

The camping accommodation includes pre-erected tents, sleeping bags and foam mattresses. That’s every tent for everybody at no extra charge. If you want to sleep in a little luxury, then maybe our Glamping options are for you, with plenty of space and more comfortable beds, electricity and other creature comforts. Beyond the rows of tents Stoketoberfest’s kitchen churns out cooked breakfasts and dinners every day for everybody, the Stoke stage featuring DJs and bands and our very own radio show (you’re the star!), the Stoke Spinning Wheel offers you the chance to swap underwear with a stranger, drink out of your shoe, or win a free trip and all the Stokies, whether staff or traveller, there waiting to knock you over with a travelling story, listen to your tales of drunken misadventure from the previous day’s partying or get you prepped for another big one in the beer halls. All of this, and more, is included in every Stoke Travel Oktoberfest stay.

Then there’s the bar, the open bar, the all-you-can-drink* beer and sangria bar that does demand a €10 a day surcharge, but will promise all the liquid confidence and social lubricant that any aspiring Oktoberfest legend could ever need. If beer is the last thing you’re thinking of at this very moment, the onsite coffee cart might be more up your alley, or perhaps you’d like to try on some traditional German Oktoberfest outfits from our very own store, where you’ll find something for everyone at a price that’s cheaper than in town.

And that’s just a taste of what’s on offer at Stoketoberfest. Every year we come up with new and crazy ways to make our little corner of Munich more pleasurable for travellers. We really pride ourselves on creating the funnest environment away from the official party and then filling it with absolute legends like yourself. Want to know what we’ve got planned for this year? Well you’ll have to book Oktoberfest 2018 and come and see for yourself.

Book your Oktoberfest with Stoke Travel, find out what Oktoberfest really is, or check out our backpacker’s guide to Germany.

*During opening hours and within reason. You can shower in it, but we can’t serve you if you’ve forgotten your own name.

 

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Ein Prosit!

Ein Prosit is German for “cheers”, something you’ll be doing often at a beer drinking festival. Oktoberfest is Germany’s unashamedly boozy beer festival filled with all the stereotypes that you expect of it, but really what is Oktoberfest?

Happy, merry, often beerbelly-sporting, Munich locals, young and old, families and groups of friends and coworkers, singing, cheersing, drinking, dancing and eating together. They love the Oktoberfest, and they don’t mind having us along for the party. Join them on their tables and let the good times flow. Buxom Bavarian babes wearing low-cut dirndls carrying stacks of litre beer glasses at a time, we’ve seen them carry 15 at a time! With a smile. Make sure you tip them. Red-faced oompah bands blasting singalong drinking songs, encouraging the crowd to PROST and drink more, while the assembled sea of revellers squeeze and grind their way onto the dancing tables. They play the same songs every day, but gee they’re great songs.

Glaze eyed, beyond happy tourists clinking glasses with equally stoked locals, arms over shoulders, slurring confirmations of their newly forged drunken best-friendships. Full-time kitchens churning out the best drinking food imaginable, constant streams of perfectly seasoned chickens, gravy-drenched pork, steering wheel sized pretzels, and radishes (radishes?) with the efficiency of a fast-food drive through, but at a quality that would put even the most culinary of grandmas to shame. The beer. Oktoberfest beer is everything you’ve imagined it to be and then some – delicious amber ale served crisp and cold, free from all artificial products and preservatives and served by the litre. And trust us, after one litre even the darkest of moods will be transformed into a fuzzy kaleidoscope of good times after your second you’ll be the best singer and dancer the beer halls have ever seen. Whatever happens after that is anybody’s guess. And that’s just inside the beer halls! Outside these hallowed halls awaits a magical wonderland of skipping and stumbling families and singles, eating and drinking and playing carnival games and testing their stomach on wild rides as impressive as those in any of the world’s theme parks.

It is all this that makes Oktoberfest a party that should sit at the top of your bucket/to-do lists. This is one festival that everyone, even the teetotallers, should do at least once in their lives. And when they do, they should be with Stoke Travel, because nobody has as much Oktoberfest fun as us.

 

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