Wine tastings in August 2024

Most of the wine-related activities this month are music festivals that help to incorporate our favourite drink into our leisure time. In addition, there are a handlful of places in Spain where wine lovers can go to taste and enjoy good wines, such as Sanlúcar, where the Taberna der Guerrita continues with its wine tasting programme, or Valenciso in Rioja and its calendar full of plans to enjoy a glass of wine.

1, 3, 7, 13, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29 y 31 August. As part of its summer experience programme, Valenciso winery is hosting several activities this month, such as live music at its wine bar (1st and 31st), a relaxed tasting in Sajazarra with other local wines (3rd), a mindfulness workshop (7th), wine and poetry (13th), listening to wine by Carles García (21st), a tasting of chocolate and wine (22nd), music under the stars (24th), a photography workshop for social media (26th), a vertical of Valenciso white wines at La Vieja Bodega restaurant (28th) and a guided tour of Ollauri and a night-time tour of the winery with Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso (29th). Where: Valenciso in Ollauri, La Rioja (Ctra. 313 Ollauri-Nájera, km.0,4). Check prices and bookings at the link.

1-4 August. The Somontano Wine Festival is held in Barbastro (Huesca) in northern Spain and includes concerts, dancing, comedy shows and tapas tastings as well as Somontano wine tastings, winery visits and a tasting workshop about flavour. More details about the festival in the link.

1-16 August. The Patio de la Tonelería or bodega Las Copas at González Byass in Jerez de la Frontera will host a new edition of Tío Pepe Festival, featuring some eternal glories in the national scene such as Amaral, José Mercé, Santiago Auserón or Los Secretos. The food will be prepared by restaurants El Huaso and Pedro Nolasco. More details about the festival in the link above

2 August. Linda Díaz, sommelier and brand ambassador at Gramona, will be in Albariza en las Venas in Jerez de la Frontera (read our recent review) presenting a tasting of wines -with and without bubbles- made from Palomino and Xarel.lo, two grape varieties that have been submitted until recently to method rather than the vineyard, Among the guest bottles are Gramona, Can Rafols del Caus, Enric Soler and Enclos de Peralba. Time: 19:00 Price: €35 Bookings by DM on @albarizaenlasvenas

2-3 August. Bodegas Bhilar hosts a couple of kundalini yoga sessions on its terrace overlooking Elvillar and the Cantabria mountain range in Rioja Alavesa. Time: 08:30 - 10:00 Price: €25 Reservations on this phone number: +34 647 157 283

3 August. The winery Jean Leon in Penedès celebrates the Perseids meteor shower. Attendees will be able to watch the stars with a telescope and there will also be a master class with astronomer Joan Anton Català. There will also be music, wines produced at the winery (Vinya Gigi, Vinya Le Harvre, Vinya Palau y Vinya La Scala) and an open-air dinner. Time:19:30 Price: €80

Until 4 August. The Fiesta del Albariño which takes place in Cambados (Pontevedra) since 1953, is a popular event with pop concerts, dancing parties and circus and magic attractions. Although the fiesta has turned to more leisurely activities 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.

7-11 August. Holiday makers and visitors visiting Castilla y León can check out Sonorama in Aranda de Duero. This music festival will have on stage dozens over 120 artists such asLos Planetas, El Columpio Asesino, Ladilla Rusa, Luz Casal, Biznaga, Mikel Izal, Hombres G, Rozalén o Varry Brava, among others. In addition to a couple of wine bars with Ribera del Duero wines at the festival, there will also be wine tastings.

8 August. As part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, La Vieja Bodega restaurant in Casalarreina (La Rioja) is holding a tasting of Slovenian wines with winemaker Neza Skrt, followed by a dinner with a menu of Slovenian dishes. Time: 19:30 Price: €50 Information and reservations at restaurante@laviejabodega.es

8 August. The winery Viña Costeira hosts the Noche de las Perseidas, popularly known as the tears of San Lorenzo, in the Pazo de Toubes in Cenlle (Ourense) with live music, shows, a guided astronomy observation and food and wine. Time: 19:30- 01:00 Price: €118. More information on telephone +34 648 237 385

8 August. Bodegas Barbadillo presents Ignota Nocturna, a tour of three century-old wineries in the Barrio Alto of Sanlúcar de Barrameda: the Casa de la Cilla, where the oldest wines are aged, the founding cellar of El Toro and the unique spaces of the Angioletti cellar, such as the Atamán space. Throughout the tour it will be possible to taste old wines, manzanillas and vermouth. Time: 20:00 Price: €40

8, 9, 25 and 26 August. Pilar Cruces, of Lust for Wine, continues to organise activities this month. On the 8th, at her venue in Burgos (Plaza Alonso Martínez, 7A Office 57) she presents a Wine Casino (20:30 - €40). On the 9th in Pradoluengo Pilar presents Vinos Sonoros: The history of opera from the 17th to the 20th century, with four wines, four snacks and four songs (€35). On the 25th she will be at the Ezcaray Fest with Wines and Vinyls at Casa Masip and a menu of five courses and five wines (14:00 - €60). Finally, on the 31st Pilar will be at Summer Edition Vermú (Paseo del Espolón, 16 Burgos) with "I read you a wine". Information and reservations at +34 638 661 408

8, 10, 22, 23 and 24 August. The wine tastings at Taberna der Guerrita, a classic summer event for wine aficionados, continues this month in Sanlúcar de Barrameda with Jordi Melendo and champagne (8th), Antonio López of Lagar El Monte en Moriles (10th), The Wine Bang (10th), Belgian beers with Wim Casteur (22nd), Antonio Roquette of Portuguese producer Esporao (23rd) and Armando Guerra with a tasting of wine for people who are not into wine (17th). All the tastings are at 20:00 except the one of Lagar El Monte, which is at 12:00 Price per tasting: from €30 Further information and bookings via email: info@tabernaderguerrita.com.

9 August. The 3rd Lumbrales Wine Show, called Sabores de Frontera, will feature 11 guest producers in Lumbrales, a small town in Salamanca with a long-standing wine-growing tradition. There will be producers from nearby regions such as Dominio del Noveno, Quinta Las Velas, Inma Vadillo Viticultora, Pedro Gajate, and the event organisers Corazón Continto (Lumbrales); from Zamora: Almaroja, Frontio and El Hato y El Garabato, Valcabadino, Viñaguareña and from Portugal Arribas Wine Company. Where: Casa de los Condes. Time: 18:00 - 23:00 Price: €3.

23 August. The Umami Gijón school (Av. Rufo Rendueles, 8) presents a tasting with sommelier Iñaqui Busto to taste the following wines accompanied by a dish: Loidana red by Marco Abella, Son de Sol on lees by Marisol Rubio, El Castro de Valtuille by Raúl Pérez, Lara Clarete by Territorio Luthier and Lia Pet-Nat Rosado ancestral by Nivarius. Time: 20:00 Price: €40

23-25 August. The festival Esférica Rioja Alavesa, held in the region for the fourth year, includes performances in venues such as Bodegas Baigorri in Samaniego, Bodegas Ysios in Laguardia and Plaza de La Paz in Labastida. Artists such as Coque Malla, Ángel Stanich, Feet o Galerna, among others, will be on the stage. There will also be exhibitions, themed tastings and local food. There will be a bus to move between the different venues. Tickets from €20.

26-29 August. As part of the Utiel-Requena Grape Harvest Festival, paired tastings are organised combining different wines and cavas with a diverse gastronomic selection. Place: Edificio Multifuncional del Recinto Ferial - Avenida Fiesta de la Vendimia. Time: 12:30 Price: €15

29 August - 1 September. Bodegas Franco-Españolas in Logroño hosts a new edition of Muwi Rioja Fest, a festival with indie Spanish bands such as Niña Coyote eta Chico Tornado, El Columpio Asesino, Xoel López, Rodrigo Cuevas, Amaral o Smile,among others. As well as concerts, festival-goers will be able to visit the winery, take part in tastings and sample local food and vermouth. Day tickets from €45

31 August. Lanciego in Rioja Alavesa hosts a day dedicated to wine with guided visits to several wineries in the village (12:00), commented tastings from 17:00 to 19:00 (Garnachas of Lanciego and other parts with Luis R, Lanciego vs the World with Roberto Oliván, carbonic macerations between borders and special vineyards of Lanciego) and an open tasting from 19: 30 to 21:30 with wines from Mendieta Osaba, Luis R, Tentenublo, Blanco Pérez de Azpillaga, Gonzamendi, El Mozo, Lanzaga, Azpillaga Urarte, Amestoy and Cooperativa Nuestra Señora del Campo. Sign up for visits to wineries and tastings via WhatsApp: +34 629 951210 Further information on Instagram @ardolantzi

1-31 August. Coravin presents Bubble Bar, an initiative that several establishments in Spain have supported -Timón de Roche (Cádiz), Playa Padre (Marbella), The Beach Club Higuerón (Benalmádena), Coconovo Beach (Chiclana de la Frontera), Casamar (Llafranc), Narru (Donostia) and Cornamusa Cibeles (Madrid)- that offers throughout the summer the following fine sparkling wines by the glass: Dom Pérignon Vintage, Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage, Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial, Krug, Ruinart’s Blanc de Blancs, R de Ruinart Brut, Veuve Clicquot, Tattinger Folies de la Marquetterie, Gardet Champagne Brut Tradition, Gosset Brut Grande Réserve and Recaredo Terrers.