The amazing wine fountain of Irache ! It's a fountain that gives out free water and wine, imagine that !

écriteau fonatine d'Irache

This is a place you can't miss if you're walking the Camino Frances

Since 1991, on the French Way, approximately 2 kilometers from the exit of Estella towards Los Arcos, a sign (below) invites you

The message displayed on the sign above the fountain is
panneau-Irache-301x166

Pilgrim, to reach Compostela with might and main, take a sip of this noble wine and drink to your joy
FONTAINE D'IRACHE
FONTAINE DU VIN

NDLR : Drinking alcohol in excess can harm your health ! 😇

Irache-fontaine

One tap dispenses water and the other wine. Don't expect a grand cru, especially if you taste it at 7 am!... and at that time, it might knock you off your feet for the day! But Irache wines are renowned, and you shouldn't judge them by the quality of the one that flows freely from this fountain

The Bodegas Irache fountain was installed along one of the walls bordering the Way of Saint James in 1991. As early as the 12th century, according to the Codex Calixtinus, the region was renowned for its good wine and bread.

Please do not fill your water bottle, but only a glass (or the equivalent of a glass). There are two reasons for this:

  • First off, even though the sign might say otherwise, there's a limit to how much wine we give out each day. Once the barrel (behind the wall) is empty, that's it for the day. So, the pilgrims after you will be out of luck
  • Secondly, some pilgrims who overindulged by filling their water bottles were fined 150 euros by the Guardia Civil for "incivility"! That's a hefty price for a bottle... It seems this kind of fine is unusual in France, isn't it? (We heard about this case a few years ago, but there might have been others. Be aware that the "Guardia Civil" (police in Spain) is vigilant along the entire Camino.)

If you come by on a weekday and it's not too late, you might be able to get your passport stamped Credential For weekdays and public holidays, the wine museum (near the fountain) is the place to go for inquiries.

The fountain is continuously monitored by a webcam, and you can view a live stream of Hirache here

For more information about the site and the wine of Irache, please refer to the web site of Irache