Wine tastings in April 2022

Many wine professionals will start the month of April at Barcelona Wine Week, which in parallel hosts a handful of interesting tastings for amateurs such as Vella Terra, the Noche de las Garnachas and the Off The Record show. The rest of the month also has some very appetising tastings and events, such as the new edition of the Fira del Vi de Falset and all the associated events, or the tasting Vinos de España, Una Pasión hosted by Emilio Hidalgo in Córdoba.
Don't forget to check this agenda by mid-month for updates on tastings and the country's most interesting events.

1, 2 and 3 April. Pon la mesa por Ucrania (Lay the Table for Ukraine) is a charity market where new and second-hand gastronomy-related items and other decorative objects for the home will be on sale. All the funds raised will go to World Central Kitchen, the charity that is on the front line feeding refugees from the conflict in Ukraine. Place: NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding. Opening hours: 11:00 to 20:00

1-2 April. The town of Montalbán (Córdoba) organises a wine and gastronomy fair with guided tours, flamenco performances, wine workshops and guided tastings. More information on this link

2 April. Joaquín Parra, creator of the Wine Up! wine and distillates guide, imparts a masterclass on Spanish brandy in Tomelloso (Ciudad Real), a town where nearly 45% of the world's wine alcohol is distilled. The Masterclass is divided into five blocks: history, legislation, distillation, ageing and tasting of 10 brandies and holandas (brandy spirit with a strength below 70% vol.): Lepanto Solera Gran Reserva, Gran Duque de Alba XO, Imperial de Baco XO, all from Jerez. Brandy Suau 25 will be tasted from Palma de Mallorca, Mascaró XO from Vilafranca del Penedès, Peinado 20 from Tomelloso and the fresh and aged holandas aged 2 and 15 years by Destilerías Altosa. Registration by telephone on +34 635 503643

2 April. Bodegas Aragonesas in Fuendejalón (Zaragoza) presents Las Garnachas Mágicas, an activity in which participants will enjoy wines made with this variety and a live magic show. Registration at enoturismo@bodegasaragonesas.com. Price: €25 (children €15).

2-3 April. The natural wine fair Vella Terra holds a new edition in Barcelona (Estación del Norte) with the presence of more than 140 small producers from Catalonia (Alfredo Arribas, Sicus, Celler La Salada, Recaredo, Porcellanic, Escoda Sanahuja, Loxarel, Celler Frisach, Joan Rubió, Anima Mundi.... ), as well as from other regions in Spain (Gratias, Bodegas Garay, 4 Kilos, Uva de Vida, Pigar, Azpillaga Urarte, Constantina Sotelo) and Europe. Hours: (April 2) 13:00-20:00 and (April 3) 12:00-19:00 Price: €25. Tickets are available at Garage Bar, in Barcelona and on this link.

4, 6 and 7 April. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) has scheduled the following tastings this month: Ramos Pinto and its Port wines (April 4, €35), Canarian white Vijariego wines (April 6, €40) and a video tasting of the 2018 vintage by Les Saint-Elites, a group of Bordeaux vignerons, led by its president Julien Richard (April 7, €40). All tastings take place at 19:00.

4-6 April. Barcelona Wine Week (BWW) is a professional fair held for the second time in the Catalan capital. Beyond the tastings and conferences, the fair sponsors various wine tours, food and wine pairings and special promotions in the city. Click on this link for further details.

5 April. Casa Rius (Rosselló, 195) is the venue chosen this year for Off the Record, a wine show in Barcelona attended by 39 producers such as 4 Monos, Albamar, Colet, Alvar de Dios, El Majuelo, Verónica Ortega, Barco del Corneta, Dominio de Es, Tentenublo, Villota, Sílice Viticultores, Sistema Vinari, Sota els Angels, Fredi Torres and Lectores Vini, Viña Zorzal, Javier Revert and La del Terreno, among others. Hours: 11:00-20:00 Price: €10

5 April. Coinciding with BBW, the Association Terra de Garnatxes presents G-Night, the Great Night of Garnachas, where you can taste wines from the wineries belonging to the association. It will be held at Palau Robert in Barcelona at 19:30.

5-6 April. The Rioja Alavesa Wine Campus organises two courses for professionals or people interested in the world of wine. The courses are: how to tailor the message to an audience on guided tours and planning food and wine experiences. Course times and prices vary depending on the activity.

6 April. As part of the fringe events during BWW, the group Mujeres del Vino host a tasting where you can taste cuvées made by the women of this collective created by Anne Cannan of Clos Figueras, which brings together more than 100 wine professionals. Venue: Jardines del Palacio de Pedralbes in Barcelona (Av. Diagonal, 686) Time: 19:00 - 22:00 Price: €11.32

6 April. Galician winemaker Roberto Regal will be today at La Canibal in Madrid (Argumosa, 28) to explain Enonatur. This project is geared to amateurs, who can create their own wine from selected vineyards in Ribeira Sacra, preventing them from being abandoned. Time: 18:30 -20:00 More information on telephone +34 633 798241

6, 7, 21 and 22 April. Wine store Lavinia in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) hosts a handful of activities this month, with Ribera del Duero taking centre stage in the tasting with Javier Alonso from Viñedos Alonso del Hierro (6th, €65) and the Ribera del Duero showroom (7th, from 18:00 with one-hour shifts). In addition, the following tastings are also scheduled: cava vs champagne (21st, €65) and lunch plus tasting of New World Malbec wines (22nd, €65). Check hours on the link above.

7 April. Puro Vino restaurant in Murcia has invited Elena Pacheco and Isio Ramos, from Bruma del Estrecho Marín, to present at a dinner tasting the single vineyard Monastrell wines they make in Jumilla. Time: 21:30 Price: €36

7, 21 and 28 April. Coinciding with Seville's famous April Fair, wine store Reserva y Cata in Madrid (Conde de Xiquena, 13) hosts a series of tastings with three bodegas from Jerez -Tradición, Williams & Humbert and Fernando de Castilla- presented by the producers themselves. The theme of the tastings is the scales or criaderas of Amontillado and the wines tasted will range from the youngest to the oldest in the solera. Time: 20:00 Price: €20 per tasting or €50 for all three.

9 and 16 April. The DO Jumilla hosts a series of wine tastings on a boat powered by sustainable energy on the Segura River. They take place during the first half of the year and are hosted by the region's winemakers. This month's tastings will feature Bodegas Sierra Norte (9th) and Salzillo on the 16th. Tickets will be on sale the week of each of the tastings at a symbolic price and can be purchased on the link above.

10-17 April. The Terra Alta winery Bàrbara Forés resumes its Tast de Primavera (Spring Tasting) with a walk through La Sendroseta vineyard and a tasting of its wines and olive oil as well as a tour of the manor house that is home to the winery in Gandesa (Tarragona). Time: 10:30-13:30 Price: €22 More information on telephone 669675038

11 April. The Association of Navarra Sommeliers has invited Cristina Alcalá from Alma Carraovejas to present a tasting of wines from northwest Spain. Venue: Hotel Don Carlos, Huarte near Pamplona. Time: 19:00 Price: €40. Anyone interested should register before April 7 via email to actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com

14-16 April. Passió de Vilalba is a religious fiesta which is held annually in the Catalan village of Vilalba, in the DO Terra Alta. Wine has traditionally been linked to the region as well as to Christian ceremonies and plays an important part in the celebrations. In past, pre-pandemic years, organizers at Patronato de la Passió made wine in the old fashioned way, with amphorae, as it was the custom during Roman times and likely to be in a similar style to the wine drank by Jesus Christ in the last supper. Wines from the latest vintage stored in amphorae will be opened on the day so the public can try the result. Time: 11:00 Price: €15. Further information via email on lapassiodevilalba@gmail.com

20, 21 and 28 April. Sommelier Pilar Cruces, creator of Lust for Wine, hosts several activities this month. The first is her "Podcast con mucho arte" at the Arts Centre in Burgos alongside Tao Platón and the Caja de Burgos Foundation (18:30, free with prior registration at cab@cajadeburgos.com and also on Spotify). On the 21st at Sala Lust for Wine in Burgos (Plaza Alonso Martínez, 7A Office 57) there will be a session on Portuguese wines (20:30, 45 €) while on the 28th the same presentation will take place at La Pícara Gastroteca in Aranda de Duero (C. Sta. María, 2). Special prices and more activities are available for Lust for Wine members.

21 April. The Intercontinental hotel in Madrid (Paseo de la Castellana, 49) hosts a Rosé Wine Show with over two dozen producers from across the country. Opening hours: 12:00-15:00 y 17:00-21:00

22 April. La Mercería, in the village of Boadilla del Monte in Madrid (Av. Siglo XXI, 4) starts a series of tastings about the wines of Jerez which starts with eight wines from Sanlúcar: Ube Maína and Agostado by Ramiro Ibáñez, Equipo Navazos La Bota de Florpower 77 and La Bota 75 Palo Cortado, Barbadillo Manzanilla Trinidad, De la Riva Manzanilla Miraflores Baja, Callejuela Manzanilla 7/11 and Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana Aniversario. Time: 20:00 Price: €30. Bookings by phone on +34 914 49 50 06 

22-23 April. The eighth edition of Vinofest, the Navarra wine festival, is being held in Pamplona with around 20 wineries from the appellation presenting their wines at the Baluarte Congress Centre. Opening hours: Friday 17:00 - 20:00 and Saturday 11:30-14:30 and 17:00-20:00 Price: €10.

25 April. The Verema Experience travels to Malaga where it will be holding its show with two dozen producers. The event will take place at Hotel Miramar (Paseo Paseo Reding 22, 24). Opening hours: 12:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 21:00. Price: € 15

26 April. Enotoca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara 211) presents a tasting of Andalusian cheeses paired with wines from different parts of the world. It will be led by Salvador Valero Time: 20:30 Price: €55. More information at +34 91 745 1927.

26 April. Artean Wines in Bilbao presents a tasting conducted by Ricardo Sanchoyarto on vigneron champagnes with seven cuvées by Egly Ouriet, Olivier Horiot, Valerie Frison, Charlot Tanneux, Benoit Marguet, Pierre Paillard, Larmandier Bernier. Venue: Espacio Pangea - Plz. Indautxu. Time: 18:30 - 20:30 Price: €80 (€70 members)

28 April. The eighth edition of Vinos de España Una Pasión, brings together an impressive list of over 40 producers from across Spain for a day-long tasting event at Baluarte de los Mártires in Cádiz. Organized by sherry producer Emilio Hidalgo, the event features around bodegas from various locations across Spain such as Zárate, Descendientes de J. Palacios, Pepe Mendoza, Llopart, Contador, Forlong, Fernando de Castilla, Cantariña, Mauro or Menade, among others. Hours: 11:30 - 15:00 and 17:30 - 21:00 Price: From €30

28 April - 8 May. The gastro festival Passeig de Gourmets returns to Barcelona with 18 participating restaurants offering a selection of snacks and a glass of cava for €7 as well as tasting menus for €50 and pairings with cava for €65. The full list of restaurants and hotels taking part in this event, among them Casa Fuster, Mandarín Oriental or Majestic, is available on the link above. 

29 April - 1 May. The Fira del Vi de Falset (Tarragona) is back this year with the presence of more than 50 wineries from Priorat and Montsant, plus various activities such as a tasting of white wines from Montsant and Priorat and other guest areas at the Absis del Castillo de Falset (29th, €40), the Tast de les Mines in Bellmunt del Priorat (30th, €25), a tasting of wines made by all the women winemakers of Priorat at the Clos Figueras winery (30th, €20), vermouth concert at the Falset-Marçà cooperative (30th, free entry), meals paired with Joan Asens wines at El Celler de l'Aspic in Falset ( 30th, 80 €), a new edition of Tast amb Llops at hotel Cal Llop (30th, €60) and Vi-Night at Celler Clos Figueras (30th, free entry).

29 April - 1 May. The 59th edition of the Ribeiro wine fair returns to its usual format with several activities in the Alameda of Ribadavia (Ourense) including a public blind tasting to choose the best wines in the fair, tastings of colleiteiros and other wines featured at the fair led by Susana Barros, sommelier at the restaurant of Hotel Santo Mauro in Madrid, and by Juanjo Figueroa, technical director of the Instituto Galego do Viño and sommelier at Lume do Carozo (Vigo), as well as musical performances. Opening times: 19:00-23:00 (29th) and 11:00-12:00 (30th and 1st). Price: from €7 Tickets can be purchased through the Feira do Vino do Ribeiro app.

Throughout April. El Empordà acoge una nueva edición de Vivid, con un mes repleto de actividades enoturísticas para todos los gustos y que comienzan el día 2 con una cata de vinos ecológicos del Alt Empordà en el Palau de l’Abat de Llançà y una marcha popular entre viñas (día 3), además de almuerzos en la viña y cenas, visitas a bodegas, exposiciones y talleres variados. El precio varía en función de las actividades, que se desarrollan en diversas localidades de la comarca.

Throughout April. The historic Cvne winery in Haro hosts an exhibition of the work of Pablo Palazuelo, a multidisciplinary artist from Madrid and master of 20th century geometric abstraction. The exhibition includes a total of 12 large sculptures and 20 paintings that will be displayed both inside and outside the bodega. Price: €8 (€18 with a tour of the winery) Book your ticket at visitas@cvne.com