Locals of a small town in coastal Portugal were left stunned when a river of red wine flowed through their streets on Sunday after two tanks, which were carrying a whopping 600,000 gallons of the wine, suddenly gave way.

A video posted online showed the red liquid flowing and rushing down a steep hill in the small town of São Lorenco de Bairro, home to some 2,000 residents.

The two tanks were owned by the Levira Distillery.

The spill was so massive that the wine that escaped could have filled an Olympic-size swimming pool – triggering an environmental alert.

Officials then sprang into action trying to stop the wine in its path, before it could literally turn the Certima River into wine.

The Anadia Fire Department blocked off the flood and diverted it away from the river, where it ran instead into a nearby field, local media reported.

Firefighters said a basement in a home near the distillery was flooded in the wine.

Levira Distillery has since apologised for the incident and said it dredged up the wine-soaked land.

“We assume full responsibility for the costs associated with cleaning and repairing the damage, having teams do so immediately,” it said in a statement.

“We are committed to resolving this situation as quickly as possible.”