Wine tastings in April 2023

With the beginning of April practically coinciding with the start of Easter, most wine-related activities in Spain take place in wineries such as Bàrbara Forés in Terra Alta which hosts its Spring Tasting. From the second week of April onwards, activities multiply for wine lovers with festivals such as Poboleda Vins, El Alma de los Vinos Únicos in Burgos with several events prior to the big event on the 17th, the natural wine fair Vella Terra or the Fira del Vi de Falset and all the parallel events. Don't forget to check this agenda again in the middle of the month when the activities are updated.

Throughout April. The Empordà welcomes a new edition of Vivid, with a month full of wine tourism activities for all tastes, starting on the 1st with chocolate making and wine pairing, a kayak trip along the Mediterranean and a tasting of Hugas de Battle whites, as well as vineyard lunches and dinners, visits to wineries, hiking, music and a series of workshops. The price varies depending on the activities, which take place in various locations in the region.

1 April. The DO Jumilla wineries fair at Easter takes place at the Paseo Poeta Lorenzo Guardiola in the Murcian city of Jumilla. On this occasion there are 26 wineries from the region presenting their wines. Admission to the fair is free but to sample the wines and tapas tickets must be purchased. Opening hours: 11:00 - 15:00

2-9 and 22-23 April. The Terra Alta winery Bàrbara Forés resumes its Tast de Primavera with a walk through the vineyard La Sendroseta, a taste of five of its wines and a visit to the manor house that accommodates the winery, located in Gandesa. Time: 10:30-13:30 (on Saturday 8th there is also an afternoon visit). Price: €23 Reservations and information on the link above or calling +34 669675038

4-28 April. As well as looking after the wine tourism programme at Bodegas Lecea in San Asensio (La Rioja), Estela Lecea presents Parábolas para Volar, her first book about wine, travels and poetry, written after her solo journey across Latin America. Part of her travelling experiences are also included in a photographic exhibition held at La Gota de Leche in Logroño (c/ Once de Junio, 2), which will be open to the public until 28 April. Along with her book, Estela will present a Garnacha wine she has made from an old family vineyard, which is also called Parábolas para Volar (25 April, 20:15, La Gota de Leche) and a tasting of wines from Chile, the country where she worked during her travels. This tasting will be in tandem with Chilean winemaker Isabel Nicul (24 April, 19:00, €25), also at La Gota.

8 April. Fourteen wineries from Poboleda present their wines at the 12th edition of Poboleda Vins, to be held in the Plaça del Portal in this DOQ Priorat town. The producers are: Burgos Porta, Crivellé i Valls, Hidalgo Albert, Celler Mas Doix, Tane Vins, Terres de Vidalba, Totó Marqués, Celler Unió, Mas d'en Blei, Mas la Mola, Perinet, Sandra Doix, Forer Massard and Genium. Time: 11:30-14:30 Price: €20.

8 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. Organizers at Patronato de la Passió make wine in the old fashioned way, with amphorae, as it was the custom during Roman times, emulating 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 and compare it to the rest of the village wines, under the DO Terra Alta category. Time: 11:00 Price: €25 Further information and inscriptions on the link above.

11, 16 and 17 April. More than 100 wineries from half a dozen countries will be at the new edition of El Alma de los Vinos Únicos, which returns to the Fórum Evolución in Burgos after the hiatus caused by the pandemic. More than 700 wines from Spain's leading wine regions and from countries such as France, Italy, Germany and Portugal will be available to sample. Time: 11:00-19:00 Price: €120 In addition, as a prelude to the fair, Santi Rivas (Colectivo Decantado) will present his book Deja todo o deja el vino alongside Paco Berciano at the Música y Deportes bookshop in Burgos (19:30), while on the 16th three guided tastings will be held in the courtyard of Casa del Cordón: a tribute to the producer Alain Graillot, conducted by his son Antoine, a tasting with Paco Berciano and César Ruiz and another one with the producer Telmo Rodríguez (€60 each or 140 € for the three).

12, 13, 18 and 25 April. Lavinia wine store in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) hosts several activities this month, with the Rhone as the protagonist in the first tasting of the month (12th, €60) and a Piedmont showroom with wineries such as Vajra, Poderi Colla or Rizzi already confirmed (13th, €25 refundable for purchases of €50+). In addition, the following tastings are also scheduled: Italian wines and afternoon aperitif (day 18, €55) and new vintages of Vega Sicilia with wines such as Mándolas, Macán, Alión, Pintia, Valbuena, Único and Reserva Especial ( 25th, €225). Check times and book your place on the link above.

13, 18 and 25 April. Enotoca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara 211) presents several activities this month. The three we review here are a tasting of vermouths paired with pickles, salted foods and cheese ( 13th, €40, Barolo Spirits, Calle Ros de Olano nº 9), a tasting of whites from Chassagne-Montratchet (18th, €65) and quality canned products from Barbate with wines from Spain, Italy and France (25th, €55). Time: 20:30 Further information on +34 91 745 1927.

13, 20 and 27 April. This month Vila Viniteca presents several tastings at its Barcelona (Agullers, 7) and Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 45) sites. This is the agenda in Barcelona: Blind tasting for those who want to sample wine and have fun without seeing the label until the end (13th, 20:00, €45); vertical tasting of the old vine Cariñena Masos d'en Ferran from family producer Cims de Porrera (27th, 20:00, €99), European sparkling wines (27th, 20:00, €79). And in Madrid: Eduardo Eguren and his wines from the Sonsierra in Rioja (20th, 20:00, €39) and Didier Belondrade and his wines from La Seca at Fernán González, 29 (20th, 20:00, €49).

13 and 27 April. The Master of Wine Institute in London presents two online seminars. Led by Elsa MacDonald MW, the session on the 13th will provide an overview of the IMW and the Master of Wine syllabus. The second session, conducted by Robert MacCulloch MW and designed for people who want to enrol in the study programme this year, will focus on the writing and tasting skills needed to become a Master of Wine. Both sessions are in English.

14-15 April. The tenth 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: €15 (includes glass).

14-15 April. Artean Wines education centre in Bilbao presents at Espacio Pangea (Plz. Indautxu) a two-day tasting to get a deeper insight into Galician wines with a journey through the history, varieties, climates, soils, traditional and modern elaborations.  Conducted by Jorge Vila, WSET graduate and director of the Galicia Wine Academy, 20 wines from different areas will be tasted, made by some of the leading producers in each area. A book (53 pages) with the concepts and contents of the course and a certificate of attendance will be handed out. Hours: 16:00 to 20:30 (Friday) and 09:30 to 14:00 (Saturday) Price: €245

15-16 April. The Vella Terra fair returns to Barcelona this weekend with 147 producers from 15 countries who will be showcasing their natural and low-intervention wines. Among the locals will be Alfredo Arribas, Celler La Salada, Celler Credo, Porcellanic, Loxarel, Celler Frisach, Lagravera, Constantina Sotelo, Sopla Levante, Azpillaga Urarte, Gratias Uva de Vida and many more. Place: Estación del Norte, (Ali Bei, 80). Opening hours: Saturday 13:00-20:00 and Sunday 12:00-19:00 Price per day: €27.50 including the glass.

15 and 22 April. The Vin La Vie Vinos shop in Madrid (Mercado Ibiza, local 8) presents two activities this month. On the 15th it will host a tasting of French wines with the following wines: Schieferkopf AOP Alsace "Via St-Jacques", Mathilde Chapoutier Selection AOP Duché D'Uzès, Ferraton 2021 AOP Côtes du Rhône, Trenel 2021 Côte du Py and Mathilde Chapoutier Selection Rosé de Provence (18:00, €25). On the 22nd the guest is @josecastuo from Castúo Wines to present his wines from Tierra de Barros in Extremadura, made from local grape varieties such as Pardina or Morisca. Time: 13:00 to 15:00. Bookings by telephone +34 690 82 78 56

Until 16 April. The Tío Pepe Art Gallery at González Byass bodega in Jerez hosts the exhibition "Tío Pepe, from Jerez to the world: history of an icon", a journey into the promotional history of the most universal fino from Jerez, with appearances in such diverse spheres as art, sport and music. Opening hours: 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:30 to 20:00 (Mon-Fri) and 11:00 to 14:00 (Sat-Sat). At Easter, the exhibition will be open to anyone visiting the winery.

17 April. The Association of Navarra Sommeliers has invited Carlos Echapresto, co-owner and sommelier of Venta Moncalvillo restaurant, to present a tasting of the meads he makes in Daroca de Rioja with honeys from different terroirs in La Rioja. Where: Hotel Don Carlos, Huarte. Time: 19:00 Price: €50 (discounts for members). Those interested should send an email to actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com

17-18 April. Rarely does one have the opportunity to enjoy a one-on-one meeting between these two food and wine greats, and outside their usual territories in the north, but Coalla has managed to bring together Abel Álvarez, from Güeyu Mar restaurant, and Andrés Conde Laya, from Bodega Cigaleña, in its Madrid shop. The fabulous preserves of Abel Álvarez will provide the solid part while Andrés Conde will bring bottles from his personal collection with producers such as Pierre Overnay, Dodanne, Clos Rougeard, Edmond Vatan, Domaine Ganevat, L'Anglore, Schueller, among others. Time: 20:00 Price: €125

19 April. Restaurant Pura Cepa in Murcia (Plaza Cristo del Rescate, 8) presents a tasting of domestic and international rosé wines followed by dinner. Time: 21:00 Price: €45 

20 April. The wine shop Tierra Nuestra in Seville (Dr. Pedro de Castro, 5) presents a sherry wine course showing the various styles with wines from Valdespino. Further information on +34 673 310 568 

20 and 27 April. Fintan Kerr, wine educator and creator of the Wine Cuentista blog, presents two tastings this month. The first, on the 20th, will be about Loire wines with Cabernet Francs from the different appellations along the river while the second will be a blind tasting with six wines from around the world. Both are in English and will be held at Agüita Vins Barcelona (Carrer de la Volta d'en Colomines, 2) Time: 19:00 Price per tasting: €40 To book a space, send a WhatsApp to +34 608234887

22 April. Alta Alella, an organic producer based in Alella, just north of Barcelona, hosts a yoga session among the vines of the Serralada de la Marina Natural Park with views of the sea and live music. There will also be a snack after the yoga class. Time: 10:30-14:30 Price: €25

23-24 April. The Miramar Palace in Donostia-San Sebastian hosts a new edition of Biba Azoka, the Basque Country's organic and natural wine fair with producers from both sides of the border. Opening hours: 11:00 - 18:00

25 April. Artean Wines education centre in Bilbao presents an original tasting at Espacio Pangea (Plz. Indautxu) with Tao Platón, winemaker at Península Vinicultores, who will pair seven novels with seven wines. From a very personal perspective, he will explain the thoughts and impressions each book inspired in him, with the identity and character of each grape variety and terroir. Time: 18:30 to 20:30 Price: €75 (€65 for members)

25 April. Celler El Tros in Barcelona (Mallorca, 303)  presents today a tasting in English with wines from DO Tarragona. Time: 19:30 Price: €20

27 April. Wine store El Buen Gusto Vinos in Valladolid hosts Blanc-Quísimo, an event focused on white wines, both national and international, with producers such as Barco del Corneta, Rafael Palacios, Remelluri, Marañones, Luis Cañas, Benjamín Romeo, Pazo de Señorans, Do Ferreiro o William Fevre and La Coulee de Serrant, among others, as well as three vertical tastings with Jean Belondrade (Belondrade & Lurton), Alberto García (Mauro Godello) and Pedro Ruiz (Ossian). Where: Hotel Zenit (Plaza de la Universidad, 11). Time: 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00 Price: €25 Inscriptions on info@elbuengustovinos.com

28-30 April. The 60th edition of Ribeiro wine fair returns to its usual format with more than 30 wineries and vignerons or colleiteiros and several activities in the Alameda de Ribadavia (Ourense) yet to be announced.

28-30 April. Ressons Penedès by Cruïlla is a festival that fuses music, wine tourism and wine on 21 stages that will host some thirty performances in six natural spaces and 15 wineries in L'Alt Penedès in Catalonia, such as Torres, where Soleá Morente or Pol Batlle and Rita Payés will perform, Vallformosa (Iván Ferreiro), Elyssia by Freixenet (Amaia), Juve y Camps (Joan Colomo) or Can Rafols dels Caus (Judit Neddermann). Price: from €16.50 More information on times and ticket purchase at the link above.

28 April - 1 May. The Fira del Vi in Falset is back this year with a wine fair at the Euterpe Space with the participation of more than 50 local wineries. There will also be many more activities including a tasting of whites from Montsant and Priorat and other invited areas at the Absis del Castillo in Falset (28th, €42), a tasting of Cariñena wines from Porrera (28th, €65), the Tast de les Mines in Bellmunt del Priorat (29th, €40), a wine tasting of "The Names of the Earth" (29th and 30th, €5), informal dinners paired with Alvear and Piedmont wines at El Celler de l'Aspic in Falset (29th and 30th), Tast amb Llops at the hotel Cal Llop (29th, €60), Tast de Cal Compte (30th, €75) and La Bacchanal dels Brisats in Falset (30th, €55). There will also be parades, castellers and concerts. Check the timetable and full programme on the link above.