This year, the arrival of autumn coincides with the grape harvest in areas such as the Sonsierra in Rioja or the txakoli regions, while in more southerly latitudes fermentations are already well underway. In addition to the last harvest festivals, this month's agenda of wine events includes races through the vineyards, lots of bubbly, various wine fairs and the luxury of the ‘’Oscars of Wine‘’.
2, 7, 8, 14 and 23 October. This month, the Coalla shops host a number of interesting tastings. Wines from Dominio del Challao, the project of Manu Michelini and Carlos Fernández in Rioja Alavesa, will be present in Oviedo ( 7th, €35) and Gijón (8th, €35), while in Madrid, the tastings start with the Noche de las Garnachas (2nd, €65), wines and cheeses from Bodegas Cerrón (14th, €65) and French wines (23rd, €75). All tastings start at 20:00 and are served with snacks from Coalla.
2, 9, 10, 16, 17, 21 and 23 October. The Spanish Tasters Union in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents the following tastings this month: extreme wines from the New World ( 2nd), introduction to Port wines (9th), mixed ageing in singular vessels (10th), wines from Uruguay (16th), finos and manzanillas en rama from Jerez, Sanlúcar and Montilla (17th), a tasting with Juan José Mesa, technical director of Williams & Humbert (21st) and wines produced with the Portuguese white grape variety Fernao Pires (23rd). All tastings are at 19:00 and cost €40 each except for the Port tasting, which starts at 18:00 and costs €60 (discounts for members).
3 October. Wine expert Juancho Asenjo will be at the Escuela de Catas in Alicante (Capitán Segarra, 51) presenting a seminar about wines from Bordeaux with 17 selections that will culminate with Château d'Yquem 2006. Time: 09:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00 Price: €200
3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 24 and 30 October. Vila Viniteca presents several tastings this month. In Barcelona there will be one featuring minimal intervention wines (3rd, 59 €), French cheese and wine pairing (9th, €89), a tour of France ( 10th, €59), wines from Priorat (18th, €69) and Puligny vs Meursault (30th, €95). In Madrid, the agenda starts with sherry wines (3th, €49), wines from slate soils (10th, €69), wines of the New World (17th, €49) and an introduction to Bordeaux wines (24th, €49).
3, 24 and 30 October. Lavinia in Madrid (LaFinca Grand Café, Pozuelo de Alarcón) presents two tastings this month: Rioja vs Ribera del Duero (3rd, €50), and great champagnes (30th, €85). Both tastings will take place from 19:00-21:00. Also, on the 24th there will be a bubbly party with tickets on sale for €55 (Time: 20:30 - 23:30).
4 October. In a bubbly-filled day, the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia near Barcelona hosts Territori Efervescent, a showroom of alternative Catalan sparkling wines with producers such as Ànima Mundi, Anna Serra Cooks,Ca L’Eugeni, Casa Jou, Celler Cairons, Finca Parera, Enlaire Vins, Esteve i Gibert, Finca La Font de Jui, Heretat Can Serra, La Fita, Joan Rubió de Cal Tiques, L’Enclòs de Peralba, Muscandia, Nuria Renom, La Salada, Mas Candí, Orda Vins, Pardas, Vinestar and Vinya Lluny. The event will take place at the Cal Feru shop (Diputació, 51-53) in two shifts: the first from 18:00 to 20:00 and the second from 20:00 to 22:00 Price: €20.
4 October. Molino de la Ferrería in Villacorta, Riaza (Segovia), just over an hour from Madrid, has prepared a paired dinner with wines from different wine regions. Time: 21:30. Price: €50 (tasting + dinner). The property offers special prices for overnight stays. Information and bookings on +34 639216757
4, 5 and 18 October. The Asociación de Amigos de la Vid y el Vino de Alcobendas (C/ Francisco Largo Caballero, 44) in the suburbs of Madrid presents the following activities this month: blind tasting of grower vs grande marque champagne (4th, 19:15, €50), ‘How to spot a good wine’ (Associations Fair, 5th, 12:00, free with prior registration) and The thousand faces of albillo' (18th, 19:15, €25) led by Maite Sánchez, oenologist at Arrayán. For more information and to reserve a place, call 669 404 169.
4-6 October. Around 20 cava producers, among them Juve y Camps, Rimarts, Sumarroca, Krypta, Vins El Cep o Codorníu, will take part on this edition of Cavatast, a three-day event in Parc Lluís Companys, bodegas and other sites in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona) with food, tastings, artisan products, winery tours and music. Check the programe on the link above for further details.
4, 7, 14 and 21 October. This month Verema is holding several events in different parts of the country. The first is VinLove Wine Fest, a music and wine festival at Veles e Vents in Valencia (4th, 19:00 - 01:30), the Salón de Vinos Especiales at the Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá in Madrid (7th), focused on sparkling, vermouth, sweet and fortified wines; Experiencia Verema Alicante on the 14th at the Alicante Golf Hotel, and Experiencia Verema Bilbao at the city's Carlton Hotel. Except for VinLove, the opening hours of the experiences are from 12:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00. Tickets from €20.
5 October. The Pirineos winery in Barbastro (Huesca) is organising a harvest party with all the bodega's wines as part of a gastronomic experience complete with live music. Time: 14:00
5 October. Further south, the Corbí family celebrates the end of the harvest at their estate in Las Hoces del Río Cabriel (Valencia) with music, Clos Cor Ví wines and live cooking by Dani Grau (El Rebost, Sueca). A free shuttle bus from Valencia will be available for those attending the event. Time: 13:00 - 20:30 Price: €95
6, 17, 22, 24 and 26 October. Wine education centre Lust for Wine in Burgos (Plaza Alonso Martínez, 7A Office 57) presents its programme of wine events this month, starting on the 6th with a blind tasting of Spanish whites in its Burgos venue (12:30, €35) and continuing on the 17th and 24th with a seminar on Sicily (20:30, €45) in Burgos and La Pícara de Duero, respectively. On the 22nd, Pilar Cruces presents ‘Te leo un Vino’ at Música y Deportes in Paseo del Espolón, 16 (19:30, €8), while on the 24th she will conduct a seminar called ‘El Otro Lado de Castilla y León’ at Fuera de Carta in Valladolid (19:00, €45). On the 26th she will be at Vino y Obra, a gathering of art and wine in Cangas de Narcea (Asturias) with a wine tasting and literature workshop (10:30, free). Discounts for club members. More information and bookings on +34 638 661 408
7-9 October. San Sebastian Gastronomika is essentially a cooking congress, but the organisers also leave a small area for tastings on the 7th. This year's edition will feature Mireia Torres, of Familia Torres, who will present a tasting on innovation in winemaking and ageing in the different territories where the group is present (11:30 - 12:30), wines from Tenerife (16:30 - 17:30), the wines of Mauro with Mariano García and Víctor Fdz Carravilla (18:30-19:30) and Ribera and Rioja with Agustín Santolaya of Roda (8th, 18:00 - 19:30). Where: Kursaal, San Sebastián Price: €50 per tasting.
9 October. Rivas, a restaurant in Vega de Tirados (Salamanca), has invited sommelier Andrés Conde Laya, of cult wine restaurant La Cigaleña, who will bring 10 wines to pair with 10 dishes created by Ana Rivas. Time: 15:00 Price: €250 Reservations via Whatsapp: +34 693 619 664
9 and 30 October. Wine bar Tiempos Líquidos in Burgos (San Gil, 5) presents a couple of tastings this month. The first will be led by Ada Mahu, sales director of importer Meddis, who will present a selection of extreme wines from distant countries (€45), while on the 30th Laura Rodríguez, co-owner of Tiempos Líquidos, presents a tasting of wines from Jerez (€50). Time: 20:00 Bookings via WhatsApp on +34 678 336 960
10, 24 and 30 October. Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) presents three tastings this month. In the first, Juancho Asenjo will present seven wines from New Zealand (10th, €55), chef Naumi Uemura will present a pairing of Japanese cuisine with European wines (24th, €65) while on the 25th you can enjoy a tasting of sweet fondillón wines with Juanma Ruiz Casado (30th, €65). Time: 20:30-22:30
11-13 October. The Vintae group of wineries presents Vintae Wine West, a three-day festival organised in San Vicente de la Sonsierra (Rioja) to celebrate wine and friendship in the middle of the grape harvest. With the theme Pirates of Sonsierra, attendees will dress up as buccaneers, corsairs and other adventurous characters while enjoying concerts, meals and tapas and wine tours of the town. Price: €230
11 and 31 October. La Ruta del Vino shop in Santander (Arrabal, 18) presents a couple of tastings this month. The first will feature a tasting of six wines and six cheeses (11th, €35), while on the 31st, there will be a selection of champagnes from the Cote des Bar (€50). Time: 20:30 - 22:00
13 October. Gastrogarden in Seville is a gastronomic festival with workshops, tapas, street markets, concerts and masterclasses such as the one given by Sanlúcar producer Raúl Moreno on natural wines. The festival, held in Parque de Magallanes, will also host interesting restaurants in the city that take care of wine, such as Sr Cangrejo and Palo Cortao. Time: 12:30 Price: free
14 and 17 October. If you are in the north and you want to get started inwine culture, you have a good opportunity these days in Las Rías Bajas Gijón (c/Poeta Alfonso Camín 10) on the 14th and in Oviedo on the 17th at Espacio Beat (c/León y Escosura 1, bajo). Time: 19:30. Price: €38. Click here to see the full programme and book a place (until 9 October for Gijón and 11 October for Oviedo).
18 October. Santi Rivas, of Colectivo Decantado, presents an Olympic white wine tasting with national and international cuvées at hotel Only You Atocha in Madrid. Time: 19:30 Price: €55
18 October. Wine store El Buen Gusto Vinos in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) presents a tasting of six wines by Enate with the winery's viticulture deputy director, Jesús Sese. Snacks will be served at the end of the tasting. Time: 20:00 Price: €30
19 October. La Bodega del Tesoro in Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón (Rioja) presents a new Encuentro entre Vinos which on this occasion will feature the following producers: Ilurce, Temerario Wines, Lauwa Wines, Moraza, Bhilar and the wines of La Bodega del Tesoro. There will also be tapas, a ham cutter, a visit to the beautiful centenary wine cellar and live music. Time: from 11:30 Price: €50
19 October. Territorio Luthier in Aranda de Duero (Paraje la Rastrilla) hosts its very own harvest festival with live music, tapas, wine and a meal. Time: 12:00 Price: €50 Bookings via WhatsApp: +34 644 707782
24, 25 and 26 October. Teresa Guilarte, of Bilbao's Artean Wines education centre, presents an online seminar in English about Txakoli (24th). The following couple of days, and with ESHBI professor Ricardo Sanchoyarto, they will respectively present a seminar on Bordeaux and Champagne, a three-hour training course in several session that will continue in November with Burgundy and Rhone. Where: Espacio Pangea in Plaza Indautxu. Times: Fridays from 17:00 to 20:00 - Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00 Price: €85 and €95 (€300 for the four sessions)
25-27 October. For lovers of luxury with seriously deep pockets, the Real Casa de Correos and Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid are hosting The Golden Vines®. Known as the Oscars of Wine, the almost €12,000 entry fee (the five figures are not a typo) gives exclusive access to a gala with awards honouring the finest in the industry, tastings, masterclasses, luxury experiences, auctions and two dinners led by Mario Sandoval and the Roca brothers served with iconic wines.
25-27 October. Expo Wine Moriles includes tastings, theatre, activities in the nine participating bodegas, a venencia exhibition, music and children's games. Click on the link for further information.
26 October. Wine merchants Paco Berciano and Maribé Revilla and their team at Alma Vinos Únicos host their Muestra de Vinos Servidos por Bodegueros, which will feature around 50 producers from different wine-growing regions of Spain. Participants will have the opportunity to taste more than 200 Spanish, French and German wines. The show will be held at their warehouse in the Villalonquéjar industrial estate in Burgos (López Bravo, 5 Nave 26). Time: 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00. Price: tbc (waived with purchases of €35 or more).
26-27 October. Tastings, open doors at the wineries, showcookings and live music will be among the activities at Matavendimia, the second DO Jumilla wine and wine tourism fair, to be held in the market square in the town of Jumilla in Murcia.
26-27 October. Bodegas Lecea in San Asensio (La Rioja) holds its own grape harvest with a traditional grape treading in the stone lagar of its facilities in the village's winery district, followed on Sunday by the pressing of the grapes in the wine press. Both activities are free of charge. There will also be visits to the 16th century cellars, tasting of Lecea wines, lunch at the winery and a walk through the vineyards. Opening hours: 10:30-15:30 and 16:30-19:00 More information at info@bodegaslecea.com Booking in advanced required.
27 October. A new edition of the Rioja Alavesa Wine Run is being held today in Elciego with three types of entries: two 10 km and 20 km races and a leisurely 10 km hike along vineyard-lined paths and trails. At the end of the race, a wine and local produce fair will be held.
28 October. Terroir Champenois presents Bubblefest, a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the first bottle of vigneron champagne brought to Spain by this wine merchant. There will be two rounds of tastings, one in the morning (11:00 - 14:00) and one in the afternoon (15:30 - 18:30) with a champagne picnic in between, 39 producers, more than 120 champagnes to taste, live music, theatre and performances. Venue: Finca Sesoliveres, Igualada (Barcelona). Price: €70 (€80 with return bus from Barcelona).
30 October. Dani Corman of Esencia wine bar in San Sebastián (General Etxagüe, 2) hosts a tasting with the following wines: Cuvée Prestige 2008 (JF Ganevat), Gran Enemigo 2019 (A Vigil), Les Jardines de Babylone 2014 (LB Dagueneau), Sapience 2009 (B Marguet), 6 Puttonyos 2009 (I Szepsy) and a mystery wine. There will also be snacks during the tasting. Time: 19:00 Price: €100 Info and reservations by Whatsapp: +34 667 982506
30 October. Fine dining restaurant Nerua in the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao presents a tasting of pintxos and txakoli Itsasmendi. Time: 18:30 - 20:00 Price: €35
