The proposal by Manuel João Vieira, candidate for the last Presidential elections, to bring “piped wine” to all Portuguese homes once again put the issue in the spotlight, this time with a look at a reality that exists right next door, in Spain. According to RTP, the presidential candidate defended during the campaign what he calls the “inalienable right to happiness” of the Portuguese, adding to the promise of Ferraris for everyone a domestic wine chain.
The tone is admittedly satirical, but the coincidence is curious: in Navarre, in northern Spain, there is a fountain that distributes free red wine, every day, at any time, and which has become one of the best-known stops on the Camino de Santiago.
Unlikely stop on the way
According to the radio’s website, the so-called Wine Fountain is installed next to Bodegas Irache, in Ayegui, on the Camino Francês route. The space has two taps: one for water and one for wine, both accessible to pilgrims passing through the place.
Around 100 liters of wine are made available every day, writes the radio station, in a tradition that mixes hospitality, history and tourism. The image has become so popular that there is even a live broadcast to follow the walkers as they pass by.
The origin of this practice dates back to the Middle Ages. According to the same source, the Benedictine monks of the Monastery of Irache received pilgrims with food, shelter and wine, at a time when the Camino de Santiago was already one of the most traveled religious routes in Europe.
Centuries later, the winery decided to revive this symbolic gesture. “It’s a way of keeping the tradition of welcoming alive”, explains the concept associated with the space, which today attracts visitors far beyond pilgrims.
From satire to reality
In Portugal, Manuel João Vieira used humor as a political tool. In statements cited by RTP, the artist insisted on unconventional measures to highlight the country’s social and economic problems. The idea of piped wine may seem absurd in a political context, but the Spanish example shows that, at least on a small scale, the concept is not so far from reality.
Founded in 1891, Bodegas Irache is one of the oldest wineries in Navarra and has turned this fountain into a local symbol. Many pilgrims make a point of stopping, toasting and continuing on their way. On a journey marked by physical effort and spirituality, this fountain became a small ritual. And while in Portugal the idea remains an unlikely promise, in Spain all you have to do is turn on the tap.
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