Wine tastings in August 2016

Relax and holidays take over the agenda in August. Wine activities are few and far between as most of Spain comes to a halt but there are a few places where wine lovers can go to taste and enjoy good wines such as Sanlúcar in the Sherry Triangle. Taberna der Guerrita continues with its spectacular tastings calendar whereas Valenciso in Rioja offers a combination of wine-related leisure activities at their winery. Note too that the number of music festivals featuring wine in their programme is on the increase. Let’s see more of that, please!

3-7 August. The Fiesta del Albariño, which takes place in Cambados, on the southern shores of Galicia since 1953, is a popular event with concents, dancing parties and circus attractions. Although the fiesta has turned to more leisurely actiities away from wine, there is still a chance to taste Albariños in the Professional Wine Tunnel, a tasting room sponsored by the Rías Baixas appellation. The last day of the festival sees the announcement of the winning wine among all those competing.

4 - 7 August. Somontano Wine Festival is held in Barbastro (Huesca) in northern Spain and includes concerts, dancing and comedy shows and tapas tastings as well as Somontano wine tastings and winery visits. You can find further information and buy tickets on the DO Somontano website or by phone on +34 974 316 342

4-27 August. As part of its 12 Summer Experiences, Valenciso has organised several activities this month. Watercolours in the vineyard (4 August, 19:00); music concert at the winery in Ollauri with proceeds going to three charities (12 August, 19:00); the perfume of wine at Hotel Echaurren in Ezcaray (18 August, 19:00); summer readings with writer María Marrodan (25 August, 19:00) and a Fashion Wine children’s workshop (27 August, 17:30). Each activity costs €15 per person except for the concert (10 €) and all of them will take place at the Valenciso premises in Ollauri (Ctra 313 Ollauri-Nájera, km.0,4) except for the Perfume of Wine. Booking is essential at +34 941 304 724

5 August. Festival VinyaSons ends its seven musical shows at 13 wineries in Catalonia with singer Gemma Humet at Oller del Mas (Carretera de Igualada C37Z, Manresa, Barcelona). The concert will start at 21:00 and will be preceded by a visit to the winery and a tasting of two wines. Price: €35

5-20 August. The annual summer tastings at Taberna der Guerrita are a classic for wine aficionados visiting Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Exclusive sacas, unique bottles, limited productions and quirky bottles are its hallmarks. This month starts with a tasting led by José Luis Mateo, from Quinta da Muradella (5 August, €30) and continues with a double session on the 6th: Ramiro Ibáñez, from Cota 45 in the morning (12.30, €30) and Juancho Asenjo with Barolos in the evening (20:30, €50) to finish with Pepe Ferrer and Armando Guerra with a tasting of wines sourced from albariza soils. Further information and bookings on +34 697 826 096.

11-13 August. The imposing sherry bodegas of Los Gigantes and Los Apóstoles owned by producer González Byass in Jerez will host the third edition of Tío Pepe Festival, featuring three leading figures in the international music scene: tenor Ismael Jordi, flamenco singer José Mercé and soprano Ainhoa Arteta. Tickets can be purchased from €40 on +34 956 357016 and include the concert tickets plus some dishes cooked by Raquel Naranjo, who took part in the last edition of the last edition of TV programme MasterChef.

11-14 August. Holiday makers and visitors in Castilla y León can check out Sonorama in Aranda de Duero. This music festival, on its 19th edition, will have on stage bands such as 091, Anaut, Delorean, El Duo Dinámico (a Spanish duo from the sixties!), Fuel Fandango, Javiera Mena, Love of Lesbian, Triángulo de Amor Bizarro and The Hives. On August 12 and 13 there will be tastings of Ribera del Duero wines led by Flequi Berruti, one of the managers of La Tintorería, a well-respected wine store in Madrid. Tastings will be held at the underground cellar of Centro Cultural Caja de Burgos, in two sessions (12:00 and 13:00) Price: €30 per day

11, 19 and 25 August. Santander wine store La Ruta del Vino (Arrabal, 18) hosts several interesting tastings this month. The first, on August 11, will feature New World wines and will be led by Elisa Errea, wine educator and director of The Wine Studio in Madrid. On August 19 it will be the turn of champagne expert Philippe Cesco and Jean Marcos, owner of La Ruta del Vino, who will head a tasting of wines from Spain vs France. Lastly, rosé wines will be tasted on August 25. Time: 20:45 Further information and bookings on +34 942 216 503

12 August. Producer Jean Leon hosts an event to enjoy the shooting stars which includes a welcome drink, a workshop with a professional astronomer, observation through the telescope, a paired dinner with wines from the winery, live music and a tour of the bodega in Torrelavit (Barcelona). Time: 20:30 Price: €40

12 and 13 August. The town of Castrelo do Miño in Ourense hosts in its Sailing Club the Ribeiro Blues Wine Festival with the presence of Spanish bands such as Freedonia and Vargas Blues Band as well as 24 producers from the area such as Casal de Armán, Manuel Formigo or Ramón do Casar, among others. Time: 21:30

14 and 15 August. What’s the common denominator for wine and bread? That’s the question that sommelier Silvia Culell and baker Agustín Costa will try to answer during the tastings that are set to be held over these couple of days at the Riutort petrol mine in Guardiola de Berguedà (Barcelona). Five wines will be paired with tapas where bread will play a leading role. Price: €35. Further information and bookings on +34 608 222 525

15-21 August. Within the Fiesta Mayor in Gràcia, one of Barcelona's central districts, the DO Catalunya has organized the fifth Wine Route with the motto “Try a different wine on each street”. There will be guided tastings on 12 streets featuring a different wine each. On August 17 there will be a one-hour guided tasting with five wines. This activity has limited spaces, costs €3 and will take place at Espai Tasta de Gràcia (c/Alzina). Time: 19:00-21:00 Further details on +34 93 4194248

20 August. The Noche de los Vinos (Wine Night) in Torroja del Priorat will be held today at the village swimming pool with the presence of several producers from the area (L'Infernal, Escoda Pallejà or Terroir al Limit, among others) and a few others from outside the appellation (Vinyes Singulars and Oriol Artigas). Tickets cost €9 and include wine tastings and the chance to take part in a draw to win a box of wines. During the morning visitors will also have a chance to tour around the village wineries. Time: 22:00

26 August - 17 September. The association of producers Institut del Cava organizes a series of activities to celebrate the harvest which start on August 26th with a journey from the must to the Gran Reservas at Pinord (12:00), a sensorial pairing in the Gramona vineyards (20:00) and the harvest under the moon at Sumarroca (22:00). Check the full programme on this link. Prices vary depending on the activity. 

26-28 August. Bodegas Franco-Españolas will be the stage of the first Muwi Rioja Fest, a festival featuring bands like La Habitación Roja, Neuman, Bigott, Rural Zombies, Christina Rosenvinge, Carlos Sadness or Cycle, among others. As well as concerts, there will be winery tours, a wine challenge, a photo exhibition, stands managed by young designers plus pinchos and sorbets by La Tavina and DellaSera. Ticket prices start at €20 per day.

Do you know of any interesting wine events which are not on this list? Are you a restaurateur or retailer who organises tastings or wine events for the general public? Send us your calendar to info@spanishwinelover.com