Wine tastings in December 2021

Unlike most of us during this month, the wine tastings agenda in December gets considerably slimmer. And although this year there are fewer events than in our pre-pandemic life, there are still a handful of interesting on-site events to enjoy wine in good company. Don’t forget to return to this page to check for updates!

1-2 December. The third edition of The Old Vine Conference will explore how the wine industry can work to halt the loss of old vines by taking practical steps to create a new category of heritage vineyard wine. Hosted by Tim Atkin MW, Jane Anson, and Sarah Abbott MW, The Old Vine Conference 3 includes speakers from South America, Europe and Australia. Hours: 12:00-15:000 GMT via Zoom (1 Dec) hosted by Tim Atkin MW and 10:00-13:00 GMT via Zoom (2 Dec) hosted by Jane Anson. Registration is required.

1, 10, 14, 15 and 16 December. Wine store Lavinia in Madrid hosts several  activities for this month. The first, on the 1st, is an onsite tasting of wines by the group Marqués de Vargas (18:00 - 19:30, €35), a virtual tasting of Portuguese wines (10th, 99 €) and three onsite tastings of champagne: Perrier Jouet (14th, €45), Ayala (15th, free) and G.H. Mumm (16th, €35) Time: 18:30

1, 13, 16 and 22 December. The Unión Española de Catadores de Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents the following tastings this month: Vertical of Gomez Cruzado Cerro Las Cuevas led by David González, winemaker at the smallest winery in Haro's Barrio de la Estación (1st, €40); Jon Cañas with his collection of  Amaren and Luis Cañas Viñedos Singulares (13th, €40); a tasting of Gaiole in Chianti Gran Selezione (16th, €40) and a tasting of sparkling wines chosen by communicators such as Pilar Cavero, Meritxell Falgueras, Carmen Martínez Artola or Sibaritastur (22nd, €35). Time: 19:00.

2 December. Sanlúcar producer Ramiro Ibáñez of Cota 45 presents in restaurant Tohqa in El Puerto de Santa María a diatome workshop with six base wines of six different albariza soils followed by a dinner with five wines paired with five dishes. Time: 19:30 - 20:45 (workshop) and 21:15 (dinner). The cost of the tasting is €25 and €80 for dinner. Workshop and dinner costs €95. Further information and bookings on +34 635258908 

2 December. Essencia Wine in San Sebastián (General Echagüe, 2) is once again hosting in-person tastings with wines from renowned producers such as Ramiro Ibáñez, Alvaro and Ricardo Palacios, Jacques Selosse, Jean François Ganevat and Stéphane Bernardeau. Time: 19:00 Price: €85  Information and bookings by telephone +34 667 982506

2 December. Verema holds Burbuja de Oro, a sparkling wine showroom, with a competition for the best sparkling wine taster and a commented tasting of Corpinnat. It will be held at Hotel Balneario Las Arenas in Valencia. Hours: 12:00 to 20:30 https://www.verema.com/eventos/86-evento-burbuja-oro-by-verema-fascv

2 and 16 December. Artean Wines hosts a training course in Vitoria (Plaza de Abastos) entitled Face to Face: Bordeaux and Burgundy, conducted by Ricardo Sanchoyarto, which includes a tasting of eight dry wines. Meanwhile, on the 16th he will be in Bilbao (Espacio Pangea - Plz. Indautxu) leading a masterclass about vigneron champagnes. Time: 18:30 - 20:30 Price: €70 and €80 respectively.

3 December. The Association of Bodegas in Haro's Station District turns on its Christmas lights for the first time, thus inaugurating its calendar of activities, which begins with a Christmas concert featuring music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Spanish Baroque composers, performed by the early music ensemble Accademia Del Piacere. This concert costs €40 and includes a Christmas snack. Tickets can be purchased via the website of La Cata del Barrio de la Estación. Time: 18:00. In addition, a wine and tapas route in the town's Station District will be held every Friday and Saturday in December (except 24, 25, 31 December and 1 January).

4, 5 and 6 December. Cebreros holds the 6th Wine Fair with stalls where you can taste wines at different prices as well as a wine tasting of local wines on the 4th at 13:00. Registration by phone +34 918630010 

4, 6, 11 and 18 December. The Bodega del Tesoro in Cuzcurrita Del Río Tirón (C/ Cuevas 45) in La Rioja presents Encuentros Entre Vinos, four days to taste wines from small Rioja producers (and one from Navarre) as well as those made by the Bodega del Tesoro itself, eat some tapas and visit the cellar, built at the end of the 19th century. The producers who will be present on the 4th are: Tierra, Pretium, Hermanos Frías del Val, Luis Moya, Mitarte and Betolaza; on the 6th it's the turn of Fernández Eguíluz, El Hombre Orquesta, Gobel, Mazuela, Sínodo Vinícola and Villota; on the 11th there will be a visit to the vineyards of Carlos Mendoza (GR99) in San Vicente de la Sonsierra and on the 18th Juan Carlos Sancha will show his vines in Baños de Río Tobía. Time: 11:00 - 16:00 Price: €40.

9 December. Wine store Majuelos Singulares (San Ignacio, 9) in Valladolid  presents a tasting of five wines from producer Alonso del Yerro: Paydos 2016 from the DO Toro and three vintages of Alonso del Yerro (2013, 2014 y 2017) as well as María 2016, from DO Ribera del Duero. Time: 20:00 Price: €15 Further information on +34 983 370 974

9, 14 and 16 December. Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) in Madrid joins the festive spirit with a cheese and wine tasting led by Salvador Valero (Bon Fromage) and Juanma Ruiz Casado (9th, €45) and two sparkling wine tastings, one with the shop's best-selling bubbles (14th, €30) and the last one with Champagne produced by the Grand Maisons (16th, €75). Time: 20:30

10 and 17 December. Wine Aspects training centre presents two tastings in English at The Tasting Room in Vilafranca del Penedès. The first, on the 10th, will feature the wines of Slovenian producer Marjan Simcic and the second, on the 17th, will be a tasting of sparkling wines. Time: 19:00 Price: €50 each 

12 December. Wine bar El Tros in Barcelona (Mallorca, 303) hosts the New Wine Fair with wines from the 2021 vintage made by the following producers in Catalonia: Cooperative from Espolla (Alt Empordà), Cooperativa Granada, Celler Covides and Celler Maset in l’Alt Penedès; Celler Carles Andreu, Vins Petxina, Vinícola de Sarral and Celler Santstravé in Conca de Barberà; Celler Masroig and Celler Ronadelles in Priorat, Celler Sant Josep Vins in Terra Alta and Celler de Sanui in Segrià. Opening hours: 11:00 - 15:00 Entrance is free

13 December. The wine bar La Vinya del Senyor in Barcelona's central Santa María del Mar square presents Sommelier Invitado, with the presence of renowned sommeliers from around the country who will be serving their selection of bottles by the glass. Today María José Huertas, from La Terraza del Casino in Madrid, will be in Barcelona. Time: 17:00 - 22:00 Price: varies according to the wine you drink. There is no cost to attend the session, which is not a closed tasting.

13 December. The first of two volumes of Bullipedia's Sapiens del Vino dedicated to wine tasting has just been published and to mark the occasion, Ferran Centelles hosts an online tasting today with two wines (he suggests an Albariño and a Tempranillo) through the 12 methods of sensory analysis in which he will offer guidelines to follow a protocol. The event is free via Zoom but you have to register through this link. Time: 18:30

13, 14 and 20 December. The Association of Navarra Sommeliers presents a three-day course on Italian wines at the Don Carlos Hotel on the outskirts of Pamplona with expert Juancho Asenjo, who will explain in depth the Barolo and Barbaresco regions as well as the wines produced in the south of Italy. The first two days of the activity will be face-to-face whereas on the 20th, the online session will focus on other areas of Italy. Time: 19:00 Price: €180 You can book your place before the 9th of December by sending an email to actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com 

15 December. Winegrower and winemaker Sara Pérez presents the 2021 vintage of Mas Martinet in Priorat in an online tasting. The seminar is free for anyone who wants to take part but if you want to taste five 100ml samples at home, you can click on this link to receive the kit at home at a cost of €35. Time: 19:00

19 December. Bodevi and the Caliu Association host at Celler Modernista in Sant Cugat del Vallés near Barcelona a charity wine tasting with eight producers (Altavins, Clos Pachem, Eudald Massana, Grau i Grau, Gritelles, Mas Pòlit, Miquel Jané and Suriol) with some gourmet snacks. Profits will be donated to Marató TV3, which this year is in support of mental health. First pass: 12:00 to 13:30 and second pass 13:30 to 15:00. Price: €15

20 December. Created by Virginia García, sommelier at Lu Cocina&Alma, and Paula Menéndez, formerly at Noor, In Wine Veritas is a tasting club that aims to promote and expand wine culture in the Cádiz province. This month the focus is on oxidative ageing and the huge range of wines in this style that are made in Spain and other wine producing countries. The tastings are conducted by Virginia and Paula and always include some wines blind Time: 19:00 Price: €65  Venue: Espacio Abierto en Jerez (Alvar López, 12). Bookings by email at info@inwineveritas.es or via Instagram @inwine_veritas