Wine tastings in April 2021

This month's agenda coincides with the start of Easter, the usual travel season. This year, with the pandemic still very active in most parts of the world, many of us wine lovers will have to stay close to home. Fortunately, we are allowed to move a little more than last year and many wineries such as those in Barrio de la Estación in Haro, Utiel-Requena and dozens of others in different Spanish regions have reopened their doors and are eager to welcome visitors. In many cases, as well as their winery tastings, they have organized outdoor activities such as vineyard tours at a time when the vines are awakening after the winter break.

1 April - 2 May. Empordà hosts a new edition of Vivid, with a month full of wine tourism activities, both online and in person, including food and wine experiences, vineyard tours, tastings, winery visits, cultural activities and even a charity marathon in 10 wineries. The price varies depending on the activities, which take place in various locations throughout the region.

8 April. Jaime Suárez, technical director at Dominio de Atauta in Ribera del Duero, our winery to watch this month, will host a tasting live on Instagram (@dominiodeatauta) of the estate mature vintages alongside Ferran Centelles. Time: 20:00 

10 April. The ten wineries which are part of Corpinnat celebrate the third anniversary of the brand with an open-door day that includes a tour and tasting. All the proceeds will be donated to a local organisation in Penedès that works in defence of the territory's sustainability and the wine-growing landscape. Visits must be booked in advance and take place in the morning. Price: €5 (POSTPONED TO 22 MAY)

9, 16, 23 and 30 April. Shortly after the lockdown began, Gratias Wines began doing live Instagram chats with fellow winemaker friends every Friday. The idea has stuck and the members of this winery, with vineyards between the Júcar and Cabriel rivers, continue to talk with fellow winemakers every Friday. For those who would like to join in, these are the next live feeds at @gratias_wines: Ismael Gozalo of Microbio Wines (9th), Juanjo of Microbodega Alumbro (16th), Aída y Luis from Alicante (23th)  and Pura Viña (30th). Time: 19:30

12 and 26 April. Launched by Virginia García, sommelier at Lu Cocina&Alma, and Paula Menéndez, former sommelier at Noor, In Wine Veritas is a new wine tasting club that aims to promote and strengthen wine culture in the province of Cádiz. Two tastings are scheduled for this month. The first, on the 12th, will take participants on a tour of Galicia, covering the different areas and varieties with special cuvées (€35), while the one on the 26th will focus on Champagne (€55) and will include a tasting of some mature vintages. The tastings are conducted by Virginia and Paula and always include some wines tasted blind  and a few surprises. Time: 19:00 Venue: Restaurante Berdó, El Puerto de Santa María  To book one of the 10 seats in each session, please email inwineveritas@hotmail.com or via Instagram @inwine_veritas. 

13, 21 and 29 April. Have you ever dreamed of being one of the few people in the world to hold the title of Master of Wine? The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) presents three free webinars in which detailed information about the programme will be provided. The first webinar will provide in-depth information about the MW study programme including entrance requirements, programme structure and assessment information as well as an opportunity to ask questions of a Master of Wine. The next two will provide an overview of the MW syllabus but will have a specific focus on the writing and tasting skills required to become a Master of Wine. All sessions are in English. 

14, 15, 20, 21 and 26 April. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents this month a handful of interesting in-person tastings starting with a tour of the Serranía de Ronda (wines by Kieninger, La Melonera, Lunares de Ronda, Cezar, Vetas, F. Schatz and Cortijo Los Aguilares, 14th, €35), followed by Sarah Jane Evans MW's recent selection of Spanish wines for Decanter magazine (15th, €35), a tasting with Toro producer Alvar de Dios (20th, €40), a vertical tasting of Juan Gil 18 months (21st, €35) and, to end the month, a tasting with Carmelo Peña, winemaker and producer in Gran Canaria (26th, €40). All tastings start at 19:00.

15 April. Artean Wines in Bilbao presents an on-site seminar called "Enchanting, lesser known Italian grape varieties". Conducted by Juancho Asenjo, probably the greatest expert on Italian wines in Spain, he will talk about varieties such as Garganega, Nosiola, Dolcetto, Lagrein, Vernaccia, Sagrantino, Gaglioppo and Carricante. Eight wines of these varieties will be tasted. The tasting session will be held at Pangea in Bilbao (Plaza de Indautxu). Time: 18:30-20:30 Price: €75 For more information call +34 615897474

16, 28 and 29 April. Lavinia wine bar in Madrid presents three virtual tastings this month. The first one is Rioja vs Ribera with four wines from both regions (16th, €95); on the 28th, Ricardo Peñalba from Finca Torremilanos will present eight wines produced in the 200 hectares of the family estate in Ribera del Duero (€40) while on the 29th the tasting will pit Champagne vs Cava (€125). Time: 19:00-20:30 To receive the wines of each tasting at home and join the Zoom broadcast, contact Lavinia at least six days prior to the date via email laviniaempresas@lavinia.com

17, 18, 24 and 25 April and 1 and 2 May. To support the hospitality sector, Dehesa de los Canónigos, a winery in Ribera del Duero, will host a midday pop-up restaurant with dishes cooked by chef Dámaso Vergara on several weekends in spring. Price: €67 (drinks not included) Reservations by phone +34 666500736

20, 23 and 29 April. This month's activities at Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) include three different tastings, all online via Zoom. The first, led by Juanma Ruiz Casado, features Albillo Real and Albillo Mayor whites (DBS Albillo Mayor 2016 by Blas Serrano; Pies Descalzos Albillo Real 2019 by Bodega Marañones and Señora Vale Albillo Real 2018 by Esteban Celemín. Price: €85). The second, presented by Javier Prohens, is about Nebbiolo wines beyond its traditional stronghold of Barolo (Arpepe 2018, DOC Rosso de la Valtellina; Travaglini Tre Vigne 2012 DOCG Gattinara and Ca del Baio Autinbej 2016 DOCG Barbaresco Price: €100) and the third, on the 29th, Ruiz Casado will talk about Rioja Gran Reservas (Viña Arana Gran Reserva 2012 from La Rioja Alta; Sierra de Cantabria Gran Reserva 2010 and Martínez Alesanco Gran Reserva 2011. Price: €95). All tastings are at 20:00 and include the bottles of wine and home delivery. More information and reservations on +34 91 745 19 27.

24 and 25 April. 26 Cava producers open their cellars to 31 writers to present their books on 24 and 25 April, coinciding with the festivity of Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day) and also World Book Day. The events will include cava tastings, winery tours, live music, children's activities and aperitifs. The activities will be held outdoors and will comply with current sanitary regulations.

25 April. Tim Atkin MW interviews Jesús Madrazo, former winemaker at Contino in Rioja and now making his own wines. The interview will be held in English on Instagram  @timatkinmw Time: 20:00 (CET)

26 April. The Navarra Sommelier Association presents De tal viña tal vino (Wish you were here), a tasting conducted by vineyard caretaker and viticulture expert Julián Palacios with eight wines from eight vineyards in different areas of Spain: Escobal 2018, Bodegas Ostatu (DOCa Rioja), Dos Canotos Caiño Longo 2019, Bodega Cume do Avia (Ribeiro), Giró de Abargues 2018, Casa Agrícola (DO Alicante), La Sierra 2016, Bodegas Unsi (DO Navarra), La Peña 2019, Bodega Milsetentayseis (Ribera del Duero), Parcelario 7. 1 2017, Bodegas Itsasmendi (DO Txakoli de Bizkaia), Frontonio Blanco 2018 (IGP Valdejalón) and La Viura 2019, Bodegas Máximo Abete (DO Navarra). Price: €60 (members €35). Where: Hotel Don Carlos in Huarte. To register, send an email to actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com.

April, May and June. The non-profit organisation Interprofesional del Vino de España offers free distance learning courses to promote wine culture for beginners and advanced learners. The training covers a wide range of topics, from tips on how to gift wine or where and how to buy it to tastings and courses to learn to design a wine list. More details on dates and times can be found here