Haro is proud of its tradition of making top-flight wines in Rioja. But, not so uptight that they can’t cut loose with a fun-loving Wine Battle.
The earliest Homo genus arrived in the Iberian Peninsula from Africa approximately 1.5 million years ago.
2,000 years ago, Romans mostly conquered the region, ruling the various tribes that inhabited the area. During this time the Romans built the fort Castrum Bibilium on the cliffs of Bilbao just outside of town. The Visigoths defeated the Romans, who were, in turn, supplanted by the Muslim Al Andalus.
Much of the region was retaken in 923 CE by the army of Sancho I of Pamplona.
The name Haro is thought to be a corruption of the word Faro, meaning lighthouse, and probably related to the lighthouse that once stood on the river near Haro.
For the last 150 years, Haro’s claim to fame has been it’s world class wines. Some of the top producers, filling their shelves with medals and trophies awarded from around the world, have their vineyards on nearby plots of land with bodegas in Haro.
Pinchos are like tapas, little snacks served on small plates. Often, these Pinchos are on display at the counter. Point and you’ll be served in seconds. Or, order from the menu on the wall and the kitchen will whip up your order.
Oftentimes, a Pincho bar (called Pintxo in the nearby Basque region) will have a specialty. Ask the person behind the bar or just take a look around. If everyone has the same dish, you can be sure that’s what the place is known for.
Haro is a small town (just over 10,000 people) and the best concentration of Pincho bars is the the Herradura quarter between Santo Tomas Plaza and La Paz Plaza.