Unlike most of us during this month, the wine tastings agenda in December slims down considerably, but there are still a handful of interesting events, many of them involving bubbly, to enjoy wine in some of the usual places. Don’t forget to return to this page to check for updates!

2 December. Italian wine bar DOC in Madrid (El Españoleto, 2) presents today a tasting of wines made with little-known varieties from Italy. Time: 17:30 to 19:00 Price: €30. Reservations on +34 695646849

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. To try the wines, visitors need to purchase a set of tickets (€20) which include a glass. The most interesting event for wine lovers is Súmmum, with talks and tastings of premium Rioja Alavesa wines. It will be held on 10 December at Palacio Villasuso at 11:30 and 13:30. Price: €15. Registration via WhatsApp on +34 611 746 711

6, 7, 8, 9 y 10 December. Seven wineries in Logroño present WOW Walking on Wine: Discovering the city through its winemaking and cultural heritage. Arizcuren, Campo Viejo, Franco-Españolas, Marqués de Vargas, Olarra, Ontañón and Viña Ijalba join forces to offer a three-hour tour spanning six centuries of winemaking history. The activity starts at Espacio Lagares, in the old town, and takes visitors through Logroño's most outstanding oenological and cultural sites, as well as to two wineries. Price: €30 

8-9 December. Cebreros near Madrid hosts its 8th Wine Fair with stalls where you can taste wines with different prices as well as a wine tasting of local wines both days. Registrations by phone on +34 918630010 Hours: Saturday: 12:00 - 14:30 and 18:00 - 20:30 and Sunday: 12:00 - 15:00

9 December. Pilar Fernández, from the Fernández Eguíluz family winery in Ábalos (La Rioja), has organised a tasting of five Italian wines at her winery. Time: 13:00 Price: €25 To book a place, please call +34 659146888

9 and 14 December. The Vin la Vie wine shop in the Ibiza municipal market in Madrid presents a tasting of four wines from Bodega Valduero (1 cepa 2018, Reserva Premium 6 años 2014, Dos Racimos gran reserva 2011 and Valduero blanco 2021), while on the 14th there will be a paired tasting with Trully Pasta and four wines from Familia Cardeña winery in Madrid. Time: 20:00 Price: €35 and €30 respectively. 

11 December. DO Uclés presents the 9th technical conference dedicated to "Sustainability, a look beyond the environment". Topics to be discussed include vineyard planting, opportunities and funding for wineries and carbon farming, among others. The conference, both on-site and online, will take place at the Monasterio De Santiago in Uclés from 09:30 to 15:00. There will be a bus service to and from Madrid. Registration by phone on +34 652 148531  de 09:30 a 15:00.

12, 13, 20 and 21 December. Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents the following tastings this month: Rioja 2005 Selección Decanter (12th), Goyo García Viadero and his wines (13th), late harvest wines with Paco del Castillo (20th) and Brunello de Montalcino 2018 (21st). Time: 19:00 Price: €40 per event except Brunello which costs €60. Discounts available for members.

12 and 14 December. The Vila Viniteca store in Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 45) hosts on the 12th the presentation of Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné du Rhône, with Chesnais Gwenaële, brand ambassador of Jaboulet. Two days later at the Fernán González 29 branch, Stefano Marello, export director of Niepoort Vinhos will present seven wines from this renowned Douro producer, plus a few surprises. Time: 20:00 Prices: €44.10 and €77.10 respectively.

12 and 20 December. El Tros in Barcelona (Mallorca, 303) presents a couple of events for wine lovers this month. The first, on 12th, is a tasting in English of five Catalan wines paired with light snacks, while on the 20th there will be a tasting of Cavas and wines from Celler Bertha paired with oysters, ham and cheese. Time: 19:30 Price: €25 and €35 respectively. 

13 December. Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) in Madrid joins the festive spirit with a champagne tasting featuring the following wines: Cristal Louis Roederer 2014, La Chapelle du Clos Delphine Cazals 2016, Cuvée des Grands Vintages Eric Rodez, Sonate Fleury 2012 and Violaine Benoît Lahaye 2017. Time: 20:30 - 22:00 Price: €75

13-14 December. Juancho Asenjo presents a macro session of Barolo wines with selected wines from some of the region's top producers: Giuseppe Rinaldi Tre Tine 2018, Elvio Cogno Ravera 2015, Renato Ratti Marcenasco 2018, Cavallotto Bricco Boschis 2017, Manzone Gramolere 2019, Giovanni Rosso del Comune di Serralunga 2018 Giovanni Rosso Cerretta 2018, Schiavenza Prapò 2017 and Massolino Parafada 2019. The tastings are organised by the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route and will take place at Bodegas Eguren Ugarte in Laguardia. Time: 16:00 - 20:00. Price: €95

14 December. With the Ortega y Gasset shop in its last weeks of life, Lavinia's activities are now being held at its store in the north of Madrid (Moraleja Green, Avda. Europa 13-15). Today, there will be a tasting of Perrier Jouet champagne with five wines from this winery founded in 1811. Time: 19:00-20:30 Price: €70

14, 21 and 29 December. Sommelier Pilar Cruces, alma mater of the Lust for Wine education centre in Burgos (Plaza Alonso Martínez, 7A Oficina 57 Burgos) presents several workshops this month. Bubbles will be the focus of the seminar on the 14th (€50) at her premises, while on the 21st she will travel with her bottles of sparkling wine to La Pícara Gastroteca, in Aranda de Duero (€40). To end the year, Pilar will host an entertaining Wine Casino at her headquarters (€38). All events start at 20:30

15 December. Majuelos Singulares shop in Valladolid (San Ignacio, 9) ends the year with a tasting of sparkling wines of different varieties, styles and regions: Bertha Lounge (DO Cava), Forlong Burbuja (Jerez), Chartron et T. Crémant de Bourgogne, Casa de Saima Espumante Baga Bruto (Bairrada), Josep Coca Gran Reserva Brut Nature (Corpinnat) and Pol Roger Brut Réserve (Champagne).. Time: 20:00 Price: €20 

16 December. Wine store Goñi in San Sebastián (Aldamar, 3) presents its Christmas wine market with around two dozen producers and some 70 wines to taste with producers such as Baigorri or Melanie Hickman from Rioja, Recaredo, Rimarts and Alma Vinos, distributors with wines in various appellations. Time: 10:30-14:00 and 16:30-19:30. Price: €10 (includes Riedel glass).

21 December. The country's most wine-loving rock&roll band, The Winedrinkers, formed by Dani Landi (Comando G), Curro Bareño (Fedellos do Couto, Peixes da Rocha and La Mentridana), Luis Gutiérrez (The Wine Advocate) and Pilar de Haya (Lavinia) among others, is throwing a Christmas party at Rockville in Madrid (Avda de Brasil, 3) with good music and a glass of one of some bottles brought by the band and included in the ticket price. Time: 22:00 Price: €15 

21 December. Los Cabezudos restaurant in Zaragoza (Antonio Agustín 12-14) presents a pairing of seven great champagnes, including Dom Perignon 2013, Cristal de Roederer 2015 and Krug ed.170., with Gillardeau oysters, anchovies in brine, white prawns from Huelva, 100% Ibérico 5 Jotas ham or morels with black truffle sauce from Sarrión. The event will be presented by two well-known Zaragozans in the world of wine: Fernando Mora MW and the sommelier Manu Jiménez. Time: 21:00 Price: € 320 + VAT. Reservations by phone +34 652 954923

22 December. Arrea! restaurant in Kanpezu (Álava) hosts the presentation of the first wine from Montaña Alavesa, Orbiso Ístora, made by Saúl Gil Berzal, owner of the winery of the same name in Rioja Alavesa. Also present will be Roberto Oliván, from Tentenublo, who makes his Vino de Trueke exclusively for Arrea!, and Sancho Rodríguez from Manin y Sus Muchachos, who makes wines in the Montaña Navarra nearby. The wines will be paired with a menu prepared by chef Edorta Lamo. Time: 20:00 Price: €125

28 December. The shop Essencia Wine in San Sebastián (General Echagüe, 2) presents a special tasting conducted by Eukene Txueka, wine connoiseur, with the following wines: Cota 45 Ube Carrascal 2015, Doniene Gorrondona Ho.Be 2019, Domaine Arretxea Hegoxuri 2014, Vouette & Sorbée Fidéle 2013, Domaine Lajibe Serres Seques 2021 plus a mystery wine. Snacks will be served during the tasting. Time: 19:00 Price: €70 Bookings via WhatsApp on +34 667982506