Wine tastings in August 2021

Relax is the buzzword in August. Wine activities are few and far between as most of Spain comes to a halt but there are still a few places where wine lovers can enjoy good wines. Taberna der Guerrita continues with its tastings whereas Valenciso in Rioja offers a combination of wine-related leisure activities. Music festivals seem to be catching up on the idea of introducing wine as part of their programme and this month there are a few across Spain. Sounds good!

31 July - 1 August. Platja d'Aro supports wine culture with the third Rock & Wine Wine Fair, which with the presence of 33 producers from 12 designations of origin across Spain and different food and wine spots, as well as DJs. Place: Plaza del Milenario Time: 19:00 - 24:00. The price of the glass is €3 to be paid at the time of collection. Reservations can also be made by mail at info@rockandwine.org

1-12 August. The Patio de la Tonelería, the gardens of Villa Victorina and Las Copas cellar are some of the venues selected for the Tío Pepe Festival hosted by González Byass this summer in Jerez de la Frontera. The festival will be starred by indestructible figures of the Spanish music scene such as José Luis Perales, Victor Manuel, Ana Torroja and Isabel Pantoja.  After the performances there will be dinners paired with wines from the González Byass bodegas and prepared by restaurants such as Lu and Mantúa, which will cook together on 9 August. Tickets can be purchased from €13.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August. Martín Codax in Rías Baixas (Pontevedra) continues its cycle of experiences As Tardes do Atlantico, a journey into Galician cuisine with the new chefs in the region. Time: 20:00 Price: €25.

4, 18, 20 and 25 August. As part of its summer experiences programme, producer Valenciso in Rioja hosts various activities in August such as outdoor yoga next to the vineyard (4 August), sensory tasting of world wines led by sommelier Juan José Muñoz Espinosa at La Arboleda del Sur in Ezcaray (18 August), a guided tour of Ollauri and a night visit to the bodega with producers Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso (20 August) and a tour of Spain's great whites with Luis Valentín (25 August). Where: Valenciso in Ollauri (Ctra. 313 Ollauri-Nájera, km.0,4). Check prices on the link. Reservations must be made by telephone on +34 941 304 724

5, 6, 26, 27 and 28 August. The terrace of producer Alta Alella, located in the middle of the vineyards with views of the Mediterranean and near Barcelona, hosts music sessions by DJ Irina Flake, where visitors can sample the winery's wines and cavas accompanied by a selection of snacks. Time: 18:00 - 20:30 Price: From €5

6 August. El Molino de la Ferrería, a small charming hotel that also houses a restaurant in Villacorta (Segovia), a 75-min drive from Madrid, resumes its activity of wine tastings with dinner in the garden. Led by Lavinia sommelier Mónica Otero, the tasting includes five glasses of wine from different producers accompanying a dish plus a dessert. For visitors who want to stay overnight, the room (breakfast included) costs €47 per person. Price: €38 More information and bookings by phone 639216757

6 and 15 August. Producer Vides Singulares hosts a series of summer tastings at its La Diestral vineyard in the Casa Rectoral de San Eusebio, 13 km from Ourense. In addition to the tasting, the Singular Tastings include a visit to the winery, some food and jazz and classical music. Call +34 628 30 90 84 for further information and tickets

7 and 21 August. The Territorio Luthier winery, five minutes from Aranda de Duero, brightens up the August nights with two activities focused on music and astronomy presented by two astrophysicists from the CSIC Research Council, a producer and two electronic music DJs. The ticket includes a tour of the winery. Dinner at the winery is also available. Time: 20:00 Price: From €20.

12 August. The winery Viña Costeira holds the Perseids Night at Pazo de Toubes (Cenlle, Ourense) with a paired dinner, music, show and stargazing. Time: 20:00- 01:00 Price: €79.

12 and 13 August. Coinciding with the Perseids, known in Spiain also as the tears of San Lorenzo, producer Jean Leon opens its facilities in Torrelavit (Penedès) for an evening of stargazing with an expert, a cocktail dinner with Jean Leon wines and live music. Reservations by email to visitas@jeanleon.com

12-14 August. For those on holiday or visiting wineries in Castilla-León, Aranda de Duero welcomes a new edition of Sonorama Ribera, a festival  featuring performances by bands such as La Habitación Roja, Anni B Sweet, Amaral, Los Cigarros, Sidonie, León Benavente and Vetusta Morla, among others. This year there will be no tasting of Ribera del Duero wines due to the pandemic. Price: From €30 per day. Three-day tickets: € 85

13, 14, 15, 20 and 21 August. The tastings programme at Taberna der Guerrita, a summer classic for wine lovers, continues this month in Sanlúcar de Barrameda with Jorge Pascual (13th, 20:00), José Ferrer (14th, 20:00), Armando Guerra (15th, 12:00), Eladio Osorio (20th, 20:00) and The Wine Bang and its old wines (21st, 20:00). More information and bookings on +34 697 826 096.

17 August. Producer Toledo&Ajenjo #GarageWine takes you to the moon and to meet the stars and the sky with the naked eye and through the telescope with the help of @astroaficion. The event will take place at El Alto Losar plot where their Airén grapes come from. There will be wine, something to eat and music. The meeting point is the Fred Galiana car park in Quintanar de la Orden (Toledo). Time: 20:30-00:30 Price: €15. Bookings on +34 625226946

18 August. The documentary Basajaun: preservando el origen will be available today for free on online platform Vitivin. After watching the film, which received the people's award to the best documentary at Málaga's Film Festival, our editor Amaya Cervera will interview Rafa García, director of Vitis Navarra and producer of the film.

19-22 August. The Esférica Rioja Alavesa festival, which is being held in the region for the first time, includes performances in such special places as El Balcón de la Rioja, La Bóveda Park in Lapuebla, Torre Abacial, Villa Lucía and Bodegas Ysios in Laguardia, the Gernika tree square in Villabuena and the church of Elvillar. On stage will be artists such as Morcheeba, Depedro, Josh Rouse, Mafalda, Tulsa and Amorante, among others. Food is being prepared by Michelin-starred restaurant Ikaro in Logroño. There will be a bus transfer to and from the different venues. Day tickets from €37.

27-28 August. Bodegas Franco-Españolas in Logroño hosts a new edition of Muwi Rioja Fest, a festival that welcomes bands such as Fuel Fandango, Cala Vento and Arizona Baby, among others. In addition to the concerts, there will be DJs, winery tours and tastings. Two-day tickets cost €60 and €35 for one day.

28 August. Bodegas Caudalía and Hotel Xabier host Baja Montaña Wine Fest at Castillo de Javier, 50km east of Pamplona, with the presence of bodegas from the Baja Montaña region in Navarra, as well as other producers such as Iñaki Garrido of Las Toscas in Tenerife, Astobiza (Txakoli de Álava) and others from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Cava and even as far as Valle de Guadalupe (Mexico). There will be a tasting of vermouths and rosés from Baja Navarra, a paired lunch and a raffle as well as a wine bar throughout the day. Time: 11:00-15:00 Price: €20 (lunch costs €35)

August. Wine store De Albariza in Sanlúcar de Barrameda continues with its summer activities throughout August with the following events: A walk along the evolution of the Sanlúcar coastline from the 15th to the 21st century (7th, €15) and around the world in the town's Barrio Bajo (12th and 13th, €15) both with historian Manuel Parodi; wine tasting with Alejandro Muchada and his wines (12th, €35), dinner pairing eight dishes with eight sherries with chef Dani Martínez and Antonio Peña (13th, €40), wine and history tasting: spices, flavour and a trip around the world with Manuel Parodi (14th, €20), writers and musicians in Sanlúcar with Manuel Parodi (19th, €15), wine and history tasting: hold my drink (20th and 21st, €18), introduction to manzanilla and generosos (27th, €20) and a walk through the Jewish quarter of Sanlúcar with Manuel Parodi (26th, 27th, 28th, €15). Information and bookings: +34 606 770532

August. In addition to walks among the vineyards and chocolate tastings, Bodegas Fuentes del Silencio in León organises a very unusual activity which consists of exploring the banks of the river Jamuz for gold. Wearing rubber boots and a pan, the aim is to find that hidden nugget. This activity depends on the flow of the Jamuz, so booking in advance is necessary. It lasts approximately two hours and includes a tasting of several wines and an aperitif with traditional local products. Price: €70 Bookings on +34 987 688 861

Until 10th September. Dénia presents the exhibition "3000 years of Alicante wine culture", which unites history, wine and art. Organised by the Regulatory Board of DO Alicante, the exhibition is intended to travel around different villages in the province and outdoors.