there are over 500 wines in la rioja, so making and drinking wine is a way of life here.avourite part of the country and i was born here. today is a very special day, it is la batalla del vino, the battle of wine. people have been waiting the whole year to celebrate this. i haven't been here since i was a kid, but i can guarantee you this is going to be very special. the annual battle is part of the week—long haro wine festival. it is steeped in religious tradition. the celebrations take place every year on st peter's day to honour him. back in the 17th century, a wine fight erupted during the st peter's celebrations, and ever since, locals and tourists alike have been recreating it. senor. this is my uncle, a loyal soldier of the wine battle. how much wine are you putting in it? 15 litres, more or less. we have three or four boxes like this. 60 litres, i like that, that sounds like... yes. now i am ready for the battle. white, red, and an important detail — glasses, so as to avoid the wine getting into my eyes. let's go. i would love this one actually. i cannot wait. eve

so what do you think wine means to people in la rioja? wine is everything for us. we have wine. it is our landscape, it is our world, it is everything. as the spontaneous battles continue, ijoined the pilgrimage to the local hermitage at san felipe church. so early in the battle, but yeah. you know one thing that i really love, the smell of wine in your clothes is fantastic. it's great to be back. it's official now. now, the battle has begun. we are getting into the thick of it. i am going to engage in battle with somebody. drumming music somebody tell me when it's finished. although i'm a local boy, tourists are very welcome. but do come prepared — old clothes and eye protection are essential. and of course, you will need your weapon of choice. so, the battle is over. i think i lost it miserably, but i loved it because i had a great time and i will come back next year. well, that is all we have got time for on this week's show but coming up next week... as south africa celebrates the 100th anniversary of nelson mandela's birth, we head tojohannesburg to discover a

there are over 500 wines in la rioja, so making and drinking wine is a way of life here.ntry and i was born here. today is a very special day, it is la batalla del vino, the battle of wine. people have been waiting the whole year to celebrate this. i haven't been here since i was a kid, but i can guarantee you this is going to be very special. the annual battle is part of the week—long haro wine festival. it is steeped in religious tradition. the celebrations take place every year on st peter's day to honour him. back in the 17th century, a wine fight erupted during the st peter's celebrations, and ever since, locals and tourists alike have been recreating it. senor. this is my uncle, a loyal soldier of the wine battle. how much wine are you putting in it? 15 litres, more or less. we have three or four boxes like this. 60 litres, i like that, that sounds like... yes. now i am ready for the battle. white, red, and an important detail — glasses, so as to avoid the wine getting into my eyes. let's go. i would love this one actually. i cannot wait. although this is great fun,

there are over 500 wines in la rioja, so making and drinking wine is a way of life here. you this is going to be very special. the annual battle is part of the week—long haro wine festival. it is steeped in religious tradition. the celebrations take place every year on st peter's day to honour him. back in the 17th century, a wine fight erupted during the st peter's celebrations, and ever since, locals and tourists alike have been recreating it. senor. this is my uncle, a loyal soldier of the wine battle. how much wine are you putting in it? 15 litres, more or less. we have three or four boxes like this. 60 litres, i like that, that sounds like... yes. now i am ready for the battle. white, red, and an important detail — glasses, so as to avoid the wine getting into my eyes. let's go. i would love this one actually. i cannot wait. every summer, thousands of winemakers, locals and a growing number of tourists arrive to not only honour st peter, but to give thanks to the grape and it's contributions to the town's culture. the festival begins with a pilgrimage to the church.

well, to end this week, la rioja in spain is well known for producing some of the country's finest winesheir devotion in a special way. this one got messy. it is thought wine has been grown here for more than 3000 years. there are over 500 wineries. making and enjoying wine is a way of life. it is also my favourite part of the country. and i was born here. today is a very special day, it is la batalla del vino, the battle of wine. people have been waiting the whole year to celebrate this. i haven't been here since i was a kid, but i can guarantee you this is going to be very special. the annual battle is part of the week—long haro wine festival. it is steeped in religious tradition. the celebrations take place every year on st peter's day to honour him. back in the 17th century, a wine fight erupted during the st peter's celebrations, and ever since, locals and tourists alike have been recreating it. senor! this is my uncle, a loyal soldier of the wine battle. how much wine are you putting in it? 15 litres, more or less. we have three or four boxes like this. 60 litres, i like that, that

there are over 500 wines in la rioja, so making intriguing wine is a way of life here.also made favourite part of the country and i grew up here. today is a very special day, it is the battle of wine, people have been waiting the whole year to celebrate this. i have not been here since i was a kid can guarantee you this is going to be very special. the annual battle is part of the week—long haro wine festival. it is steeped in religious tradition, the celebrations take place every year on st peter's day to honour him. backin on st peter's day to honour him. back in the 17th century, a wind fight erupted during the st peters celebrations, and ever since, locals and tourists alike have been recreating it. this is my uncle, a loyal soldier of the wine battle. how much wine are you putting in av how much wine are you putting in a's? 15 litres, more less. we have three orfour a's? 15 litres, more less. we have three or four boxes like this. 60 litres, i like that, that sounds like... yes. nowi litres, i like that, that sounds like... yes. now i am ready for the battle. white