Unlike most of us this month, the wine tasting agenda in December is considerably slimmer. And although this year there are fewer options to taste sparkling wines (might it be the beginning of the end of these wines' seasonality?) there are some special events, such as the traditional Christmas tasting conducted by Pedro Ballesteros MW in the Spanish Union of Tasters which this year will be about the most unknown wine-growing areas of Italy. Don’t forget to return to this page to check for updates!
1 December. Coinciding with the miners’ festivity, Santa Bàrbara, producers in Bellmunt and les Solanes del Molar, among them Mas d’en Gil, Costers del Priorat or Casa Gran del Siurana, present Tast de Santa Bàrbara, an annual fair where local producers show their wines in Bellmunt, (Priorat). There will be a screening of the film Cépages rares, un patrimoine suisse. Time: 12:00 - 14:00
2 December. The book EL VINO, en todos los sentidos (wine in all its meanings) is presented today in Madrid. Written by the painter and novelist Octavio Colis and the sommelier Jesús Paul, the presentation will be conducted by Ramoncín to the sound of the music played by Javier López de Guereña (Orphans of Krahe) and will include an aperitif with wines from Quinta Couselo, A Pie de Tierra and Taberna Dis Tinto and will take place at Teatro Infanta Isabel (c/ Barquillo 24). Hora: 19:30
4 December. Wine grower Luis Oliván, who has helped to revitalise areas such as Somontano and Gredos, will be today at La Caníbal in Madrid (Argumosa, 28) to present the new wines he makes in small amounts in places like Bespén, Ainzón or San Martín de Valdeiglesias. Time: 18:00-20:00 Further information on +34 915 396057 or at La Festival Facebook page.
4 December. Consultant chef Iván Hernández and London-based sommelier Agustín Trapero present Meet The Experience, a dinner paired with premium wines at Restaurant Aduana at Hotel Fénix Gran Meliá in Madrid The meal will be preceded by an aperitif with canapés paired with Champagne Grand Cru Bouzy de Baron D’Auvergne. Time: 20:30. Price: €125
5-9 December. The Basque capital Vitoria hosts Ardoaraba, an annual wine tasting event with local txakoli and wines from Rioja Alavesa —plus guests DO Cava and Rías Baixas— paired with local pintxos at marquees dotted around the city centre.The novelty this year is Summum, on December 7th, with Basque wines with over 94 points on international guides. In order to try the wines, visitors need to purchase a set of tickets (€15) which include a glass and can then be exchanged for wines and pintxos in the marquees and participant bars across town. To book a seat at Summum send a WhatsApp message to +34 683 683 934
Until June 2020. The Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture in Briones (La Rioja) presents an exhibition of graphic designer and multidisciplinary artist Alberto Corazón with a series of engravings that reinforce the link between wine and its inspiration in art. For more information on the exhibition and opening hours, call 941 +34 322323
9 December. Sommelier and communicator Clara Isamat will be one of the speakers at a technical conference on natural wines held at Escola Agraria in Manresa, near Barcelona. Also at the event will also be Benoid Valee, owner of L'Ànima del vi wine store in Barcelona and Rubén Parera, a grape grower and winemaker at Finca Parera. Admission free of charge with prior registration.
9 December. The Basque Country Natural Cider appellation presents Show Room Euskal Sagardoa (Basque Country Cider) at the Boulevard in San Sebastián where attendants will have a chance to taste different ciders as well as cheese and different meat cuts from the Basque Country. Time: 19:00-21:00
12 December. Pepe Raventós will be today at Vila Viniteca in Barcelona (Agullers, 7) presenting the 2009 vintage of Mas del Serral, his most ambitious wine, of which just over 800 bottles are made. Planted in the fifties with xarel.lo and some bastard negra (graciano), it manages to avoids oxidative notes. Six wines made with Xarel-lo from different plots will also be tasted. Time: 20:00 - 22:00 Price: €89.10
12 December. Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) in Madrid joins the Christmas spirit with a celebratory wine tasting conducted by Juanma Ruiz Casado with the following cuvées: Champagne Remy Massin 2008, Pazo de Señorans Selección de Añada 2010, Voerzio Barbera d'Alba Il Cerreto 2015, Sociando Mallet Jean Gautreau 2015 Haut-Médoc, Amancio 2015 Rioja and Porto Rozès Tawny 20 years. Time: 20:30 Price: €40
12 December. Also in Madrid Bodega Santa Cecilia (Blasco de Garay 74) presents a Tempranillo trail with the wines of some of the members of Grandes Pagos de España. With Antonio Moral, Aalto's winemaker, as master of ceremonies, different cuvées from the following wineries will be tasted: Aalto, Abadía Retuerta, Finca Valpiedra, Mauro, Numanthia, Propiedad de Arinzano and San Román. Time: 19:00 Price: €50 (€45 for members). Bookings at: info@santacecilia.es
12 December. Essencia Wine store in San Sebastián presents a special Christmas tasting with an impressive wine list: Entre Deux Bleus, Kenjiro Kagami (Jura), Les Manyes 2016, Terroir al Limit (Priorat), Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011, Michel Niellon 2011, Viña Tondonia 1964, Les Roysses Blanc de Blancs (disgorging 2014) Ulysse Colin and Meddersheimer Altenberg 2000 Eiswein. There will be snacks served during the tasting. Time: 19:00 Price: €120 Bookings on +34 667 982506
13 December. The Asociación de Amigos de la Vid y el Vino (Francisco Largo Caballero, 44, Agrupación PSOE, Alcobendas) presents a tasting of wines by Ulysse Collin, a respected family producer from Champagne with exclusively single vineyard wines since 2008. Five wines will be tasted: Ulysse Collin Rosé de Saignée les Maillons Extra Brut, Ulysse Collin Blanc de Noirs Les Pierriéres Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Ulysse Collin Les Roises Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut and Ulysse Collin Les Enfers Blanc de Blancs. Time: 19:00 Price: €40
14 December. Artean Wines training centre in Bilbao presents a seminar of New Zealand wines conducted by sommelier Agustín Trapero, which includes a tour of the country's wine-growing regions, their history, climates and orography, and a tasting of eight representative wines. Place: Azkuna Zentroa. Time: 10:00-13:00 Price: €165 Registration at info@arteanwines.com
14 December. Goñi Ardoteka in San Sebastián (Aldamar, 3) presents a new edition of Wine Market, with the presence of 15 bodegas that will bring over 60 wines such as Finca La Rica, Recaredo, Rimarts, Cortijo Los Aguilares, Sotomanrique, Meler, K5, DSG Vineyards y Struggling Vines Mas d'en Gil, Almaroja, Gran Bazán, Baigorri, Torremilanos and Champagne L'Excellence, as well as oysters, delicatessen products and good atmosphere. Opening hours: 10:30-14:00 and 17:00-19:30 Price: €6 with a complimentary Gabriel Glas to enjoy your wine in style.
16 December. Fundación para la Cultura del Vino, in partnership with the Diputación Foral de Álava local authority, present a conference on coupage wine and terroir wine at Hotel Viura in Villabuena de Álava with presentations by Juan Park (Wine Intelligence); the Masters of Wine Fernando Mora and Jonas Tofterup; Beth Willard, wine buyer of Direct Wines in the United Kingdom; and Juan Manuel Bellver of Lavinia wine store. After the talks there will be a round table chaired by Rafael del Rey on the opportunities for quality wines from Alava in international markets. Time: 09:00 - 14:30 Free admission upon registration by sending an email to beatrizm@mateoandco.es
16 December. The Sommelier Association in Navarra has invited Paco del Castillo, expert in sensory analysis and sommelier educator, to lead a tasting of sweet wines from different regions and styles: Toro Albalá Pedro Ximénez 1990, Enrique Mendoza Moscatel de la Marina 2018, Espelt Airam, Barbadillo Moscatel Laura, Castaño Dulce 2016, Berthet-Bondet Marvin de Jura, Niepoort LBV 2014, Cazes Muscat de Rivesaltes 2018 and Clos de Paulilles Banyuls Rimage 2017. The tasting will take place at Hotel Don Carlos in Huarte, near Pamplona. Time: 19:00 Price: €70 (€40 for members). Send an email before December 11th to secure a place to actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com
18 December. The store Los Quesos de L'Amelie in Madrid (Torrecilla del Puerto, 5) presents a tasting of five cheeses paired with Champagne Lallier. Booking is required. Time: 20:00 Price: €30
18 December. Restaurant Los Cabezudos in Zaragoza (Antonio Agustín 12-14) has invited producer and Master of Wine Fernando Mora alongside sommeliers Manu Jiménez and Guillermo Cruz to lead a paired tasting with Champagne with wines such as Dom Perignon 2008, Cristal de Roederer 2004, Bollinger RD 2004, Krug, Moët-Chandon Grand Vintage 2002, Perle D'Ayala 2006 and Cuveé BB 1843 by Besserat de Bellefon. Check the menu on the link above. Time: 21:30 Price: €253 Bookings on +34 652 954923
19 December. To round off the year in style, the Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid invites Master of Wine Pedro Ballesteros, who this year will present a tasting of Italian wines from lesser-known areas of the country with the following bottlings: Cantine del Notaio - La Firma (Basilicata), Ceraudo - Dattilo (Calabria), Marisa Cuomo - Furore Bianco Fiorduva (Campania), Chiarli - Premium (Emilia Romagna), Cantina Formiconi - Capozzano (Lazio), Bersano - Valdelsalto (Piedmont), Silvio Carta - Vernaccia di Oristano reserva (Sardegna), Donnafugata - Vittoria Frappato Bell'Assai (Sicily), Cantina Toblino - Largiller (Trentino Alto Adige), Le Fraghe - Brol Grande (Veneto) and Grosjean Frères - Rovettaz Cornalin (Valle d'Aosta). The tasting will take place at Hotel Urban (Carrera de San Jerónimo 34) Time: 19:30. Price: €70. Reservations by phone +34 914 293 477
20 December. Espai Penedès in Barcelona (Muntaner, 21) presents a paired tasting of Catalan sparkling wines and cheese with different ageing times and styles. Time: 20:00 Price: €24
21 and 28 December. The CVNE winery in Haro (Barrio de la Estación s/n), which celebrates its 140th anniversary this year, will bring the "art" of recycling closer to children aged between 4 and 10 with a workshop in which they will be able to learn about the five R's of recycling and make their own creations with materials for daily use in the winery, such as corks and wooden and cardboard boxes. Meanwhile, the rest ocf the family can enjoy a visit to the winery, which includes tasting two wines. Time: 11:00. To make a reservation, call 941 304 809 or email visitas@cvne.com
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 yolanda@spanishwinelover.com
Author
Yolanda Ortiz de Arri
A journalist with over 25 years' experience in national and international media. WSET3, wine educator and translator
