Most wine events this month take place during the first fortnight of the month as a taster of the festive Christmasy feeling that takes over the second half of the month. The most interesting tastings involve fizz, an unjustifiably seasonal style that drives consumption and sales in December.  As well as bubbly, there is the odd festival or special event, like the tasting of wines made by European cooperatives with Pedro Ballesteros MW which promises to be very interesting. Don’t forget to return to this page to check for updates!

1 December. Mostrador de Vila Viniteca in Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 4) presents a tasting of top vigneron champagnes with the following cuvées: B de Boërl & Kroff Brut 2003, David Leclapart L'Apotre Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Egly-Ouriet Blanc de Noirs v.v Grand Cru NV, Georges Laval Brut Nature Cuvée Les Chênes 2011, Gonet-Médeville Grand Cru Champ d'Alouette Extra Brut 2002, Selosse Brut Initial Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs and Tarlant La Vigne d'Antan Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs 2002. Time: 20:00 Price: €94

1 December. Coinciding with World Aids Day, Bodegas Franco-Españolas in Logroño (Cabo Noval, 2) hosts two charity tours and tastings with the proceeds going to La Rioja Anti-Aids Commission. As well as visiting the different spaces in the winery, participants will be able to taste two flagship Franco-Españolas wines (Bordón Gran Reserva and Talla de Diamante) paired with a light snack. Time: 17:00 and 18:00 Price: €5 and €12 depending on age. Booking is recommended on +34 9412512 90

1-15 December. Ribera del Duero producer Pago de los Capellanes (Pedrosa de Duero, Burgos) hosts the last days of an exhibition aptly named “About Wine” by Castilian artist Fran Herreros. Time: 09:00 - 18:30

2 December. Vinoteca Belostikale in Bilbao (Belostikale, 8) hosts a tasting of sparkling wines from Vinícola del Nulles, one of Tarragona's historic wineries, founded in 1916. The following wines will be tasted: Adernats Brut Reserva, Adernats Brut Nature Gran Reserva, Adernats Rosat Reserva, Adernats XC and Adernats Dolç. Time: 19:00 Price: €20

2, 6, 10, 16, 23 and 30 December. Bodegas Vivanco in Briones (La Rioja) hosts an activity for visitors who fancy being winery managers for one day, learning why and how wines are aged and how are barrels made. They will also take part in a tasting of wines straight from barrels made from different types of oak and making their own blends. The activity will conclude with a few tapas and wine. Price: €19

3 December. Miquel Muntané Square in Bellmunt del Priorat hosts Tast de Santa Bàrbara, an annual fair where local producers show their wines on the day that this Tarragona village also commemorates the fiestas in honor of the miners’ patron saint. At 11:00, before the tasting with wines from Bellmunt del Priorat and Solanes del Molar, there will be a screening of the documentary Vinya i la Banya by director Raimon Coll. Time: 12:00 - 14:00 Price: €10. Part of the proceeds will go to charity.

6-10 December. The Basque capital Vitoria hosts Ardoaraba, an annual wine tasting event with local txakoli and wines from Rioja Alavesa paired with local pintxos. Cava and Rías Caixas are the guest appellations on this edition with marquees dotted around the city centre. Producers like Berarte, Eguren Ugarte or Txakoli Uno will lead tastings in special areas next to the marquees. In order to try the wines, visitors need to purchase their tickets (€13) which include a glass and can then be exchanged for wines and pintxos in the marquees and participant bars across town.

8 and 22 December. Sharon Grundy changed her job for British wine importer and distributor Bibendum for a life in Barcelona. There she runs The Spanish Wine School, where she hosts courses and tastings for professionals and aficionados. The activity today, in English, is devoted to Mediterranean wines, a fun and informal tasting covering seven wines from benchmark producers of Catalunya and Rioja. Location: Bodega Maestrazgo, Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Baix, 92. Time: 15.30-17.30 Price: €45

9 December. As part of its autumn activities, Terra Alta producer Bàrbara Forés presents a vertical tasting of its wine El Quintà, a white Garnacha sourced from 60+-year-old vines. Location: Celler Bàrbara Forés, Calle Santa Anna, 28 Gandesa (Tarragona). Time: 18:30 Price: €20 Bookings on +34 669 675 038

12 December. Wine store Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) in Madrid joins in the Christmas spirit with a tasting of rosé champagnes led by Juanma Ruiz Casado: Lallier Gran Rosé Brut, Sève Olivier Horiot Les Riceys Brut Nature, Lecrerc Briant Brut, Ayala Brut Majeur, Paul Bara Brut Grand Rosé y Geoffroy Rosé de Saigné. Time: 20:30 Price: €40 

12 December. Cristina Alcalá, manager of the DO Ribeiro in Galicia, will be today at Bodega Urbana in Bilbao (Gran Vía, 66) to host a tasting of white and red wines from the region. Time: 19:00. Entrance is free but booking is necessary on +34 944 416181

13 December. The talented Nico Boise, sommelier at Elkano in Getaria presents a tasting of special bottles guarded by the Goñi siblings at their Goñi Ardoteka store in San Sebastián (Aldamar, 3), including some vintages that are no longer for sale like López de Heredia Tondonia Blanco 1999, Champagne Jacqueson Degorgement Tardif 1995, Champagne Jacques Selosse Substance Grand Cru, Champagne David Leclarpart L’Artiste 2008, David Leclapart Coteaux Champenoise Trepail Rouge and As Caborcas 2012. Time: 19:30 Price: €68

13 December. José Peñín will be today at TomeVinos in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 61) leading a tasting of Lagar de Robla Colección Cuatro Hermanos and Álvarez de Toledo Colección de familia, two red wines from Bierzo made by Vinos de Arganza. Access is free, but booking is required on +34 911704244

14 December. Jeni Wilson from WSET course provider Vinclass hosts a Christmas pairing session with cava, sherry, and red and white wines. The event will take place at La Pícara bar in Aranda de Duero (Santa María, 2). Time: 20:30 Price: €15 Booking required on +34 947 559616

14 December. Californian wine retailer Michael Cooper will lead a tasting at his new CooperVinos (formerly TomeVinos) store in Zaragoza (Kentya 4, CC La Floresta) of "top red wines" with the following selections: Cerro Las Cuevas (DOCa Rioja), Aponte (DO Toro), Carlos Moro Prestigio (DOCa Rioja), Torre del Falasco (DOCG Amarone della Valpolicella) and PSI (DO Ribera del Duero)  Time: 20:30 Price: €15 Information and bookings on +34 976 757887

15 December. Jon Andoni Rementería, sommelier at restaurant Remenetxe in Gernika, presents the last paired dinner of the year with six dishes and cavas by Jaume Giró i Giró. Time: 20:45 Price: €55 Bookings on +34 94 625 3520

17 December. Producer Alta Alella, a few miles away from Barcelona, takes part for the fourth consecutive year in the charity event La Maratón de TV3 with a charity flashmob among vines followed by a tasting of local produce and wines  Alta Alella wines. The proceeds will be destined to combat infectious diseases. Adults and children are welcome to take part. Time: 11:00 Price: €5 (flashmob + tasting) To take part, phone +34 628 624182

18 December. Wine store Lavinia (Ortega y Gasset, 16) in Madrid has organized a tasting of international sparkling wines led by Pedro Ballesteros MW and Champagne expert Jordi Melendo. Details about the wines on show have not been released. Time: 19:00 - 21:00 Price: €50.

20 December. Restaurant Los Cabezudos in Zaragoza (Antonio Agustín, 12-14) hosts for the seventh consecutive year a paired dinner with "the best champagnes in the world" with the following selections: Lenoble Gentilhomme Chouilly 2009, Cristal Louis Roederer 2007, Dom Perignon 2006, Gosset 15 ans 1999, Bollinger RD 2002 and Krug with prices ranging between 130-250 €. The tasting will be led by Fernando Mora MW and Manu Jiménez, sommelier at La Cava de Pyrene. Time: 21:00 Dinner and wines: €179

20 December. Espai Penedès in Barcelona (Muntaner, 21) presents a tasting of Penedès Cavas aged for nine, 12, 24 and 36 months and paired with cold meats. Price: €23 (Non members) Time: 20:00

20 December. Also in Barcelona, Óscar Soneira, author of the blog Hemoglovinum,  presents an end of the year tasting with the following wines: Champagne De Sousa Grand Cru blanc de blancs, La Rioja Alta S.A, 904 Gran reserva 2007, Dominio de Pingus Psi 2015 and Frederic Cossard Bedeau 2015. The tasting will be held in La Vicoca in Barcelona (Carrer d’Hostafrancs de Sió, 18). Time: 19:30 Price: €40 To book a place send an email to oscarsoneira@gmail.com

20 December. Taberna Argüeso (Mar, 2) in Sanlúcar de Barrameda hosts a dinner with tuna and sushi, their speciality, paired with seven wines of this local producer, now owned by Bodegas Yuste, also from Sanlúcar. Participants will have a chance to tour the winery before the dinner. Time: 19:00 Price: €60

21 December. To round of a great year, the Unión Española de Catadores has invited Master of Wine Pedro Ballesteros to present a tasting of wines made by European cooperatives, a category normally ignored in this kind of events: Domaine Wachau, La Chablisienne, Produttori del Barbaresco, Champagne Mailly, Robola Cooperativa de Cephalonia, Cantina Tramin, Celler de Capçanes or Borsao. The tasting will take place at Hotel Villareal in Madrid (Plaza de las Cortes, 10) Time: 19:00. Price: €100; accompanied by a member: €65 (members €50). Bookings on +34 914 293 477

21 December. The Monastery of Santiago in Uclés (Cuenca) hosts the 3rd  DO Uclés Technical Session with the title: “Sustainability: opportunities, advantages, economic and social impact. Essential for the new wine sector aid package 2018-2021". The workshop, which will be presented by new Master of Wine Andreas Kubach, among others, is open to everyone but attendance must be confirmed on +34 652 148531 Time: 09:30 - 14:30

25 December and 1 January. Those wishing to avoid Christmas and New Year’s meals at home may go to Bodegas Bentomiz in Sayalonga (Málaga) as their restaurant will prepare seven dishes with wines. There will be live music with Nueva Duet playing the viola and cello. Time: 13:30 Bookings on +34 658 845286

Throughout Christmas. Wine Attack in Madrid (Limón, 30) offers its store for Christmas dinners including around 20 dishes to share and wines by the bottle sold at store prices or €8 per bottle for BYO. Price: from €20 per person + 10% VAT. Further information and bookings on info@wineattack.es