Wine tastings in December 2022

Unlike most of us during this month, the wine tastings agenda in December gets considerably slimmer. Even so, there are still a handful of interesting events to enjoy wine in good company. Don’t forget to return to this page to check for updates!

1 and 2 December. The Vila Viniteca stores in Madrid (Fernán González, 29) and Barcelona (Agullers, 7) are respectively hosting the presentation of Volume VI of Sapiens del Vino, El análisis sensorial del vino, with Ferran Centelles, one of its authors. This volume deepens and redefines the concept of sensory analysis in wine and examines how our senses work and how to use them conveniently in the technical wine tasting. The presentation will be accompanied by a tasting led by Ferran Centelles. Time: 20:00 Price: €44.10

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: 11:00 to 20:30

3-4 December. Cebreros near Madrid hosts its 7th Wine Fair with stalls where you can taste wines with different prices as well as a wine tasting of local wines on Saturday at 18:00. Registrations by phone on +34 918630010 Hours: Saturday: 12:00 - 14:30 and 18:00 - 20:30 and Sunday: 12:00 - 14:30

3-7 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. To try the wines, visitors need to purchase a set of tickets (€20) which include a glass, The tickets can then be exchanged for wines and pintxos in the marquees and participant bars across town.

3-10 December. Terra Alta producer Bàrbara Forés hosts Tast de Tardor, an activity that takes place in the spaces of the Ebro Battle, climbing the Serra de Pàndols before strolling through Obaga de Tomaset, the vineyard planted with Morenillo, a recovered grape variety used by Bàrbara Forés to make El Templari and En Moviment Ancestral. The activity concludes with a visit to the winery in the centre of Gandesa and the tasting of five wines and an extra virgin olive oil. Time: 10:00-14:00 Price: €25 Meeting place: Àrea recreativa de la Fonteta. You must get there in your own vehicle.

7 December. Al Sur de Granada (Elvira, 150) has invited Julia Casado (La del Terreno) to its premises in the Andalusian city to present wines not yet available and others already sold out. All of them will be served with cheeses and platters. There will be two sessions, at 17:30 and 19:30.

12 December. Winelovers is a wine bar in Salamanca (Íscar Peyra, 5) which hosts an event every month. On this occasion, the guest is Julio Sáenz, winemaker at La Rioja Alta, who will bring, in addition to the house's collection of Rioja wines, a bottle that is sold out. Time: 20:00. 

12-13 December. The Association of Sommeliers of Navarra presents two training courses conducted by Juancho Asenjo, one focused on the wines of the right bank and the other on the wines of the left bank of Bordeaux. Registrations for this training are already full but you can be placed on the waiting list. It is also possible to attend the training at no cost but without tasting. The cost of the training + tasting is €60. Anyone interested in attending the training can send an email to actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com before December 8. Where: Hotel Don Carlos in Huarte.

12-16 December. Wine store Lavinia in Madrid (José Ortega y Gasset, 16) is dedicating this month's activities to champagne with five sessions. Visitors will be able to taste bubbles from great maisons such as Bollinger ( 12th) or Perrier Jouet (13th), Ayala (14th) or Mumm (15th) and from small producers (16th). Time: 19:00-20:30 Price: €250 for the five sessions (€65 each single session)

13 December. Wine bar La Vinya del Senyor in Santa Maria del Mar, a charming and central square in Barcelona, presents Guest Sommelier, with the presence of renowned sommeliers from around the country who will be serving their selection of bottles by the glass. Today it will be the turn of Sergio Calderón, sommelier of Bras restaurant in Laguiole (France). Time: 17:00 - 22:00 Price: varies according to the wine to be tasted. There is no cost to attend the session, which is not a closed tasting. Reservations are not accepted.

13 and 15 December. Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) in Madrid joins the festive spirit with a champagne tasting (day 13, €70) featuring the following wines: Dom Pérignon 2012 Brut, Leclerc Briant 2016 Extra Brut, Francis Boulard Grand Cru Grande Montagne 2009 Brut Nature, Étienne Calsac Comète Brut Nature and Olivier Horiot Soléra Brut Nature. The reds from Vosne-Romanée, on the cusp of Burgundy's villages, will be served on the last tasting of the year (15th Dec): Jean Grivot Grand Cru Echezeaux 2019, Lucien Le Moine 1 er. Cru Petit Monts 2018, Coudray-Bizot 1er Cru La Croix Rameau 2015, Confuron-Contetidot 1er Cru Les Suchots 2019 and Georges Noëllat 1er Cru Chaumes 2017 (€125). Time: 20:30 - 22:30

14 December. The short film "Y A La Viña También" will be screened at Bodega Bideona in Villabuena (Rioja Alavesa), with the participation of the director Irene Guede and one of its protagonists, María Abete. This will be followed by a round table with the presence of Victoria Cañas from Bodegas Díez Caballero, winemaker Elena Corzana, Carmen Enciso from Bodegas Valenciso, Vicky Fernández from Bodega José Gil and Esperanza Tomás from Bodegas Roda. The discussion will be chaired by Tao Platon. Time: 19:00 To be part of the audience, send an email to c.pacheco@peninsula.wine

14-15 December. Juancho Asenjo presents The History of Rioja Alavesa through its wines, an informative and entertaining session with a tasting of 20 wines over two sessions. The event is organized by the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route. Hours: 16:00 - 20:00 (14th) and 9:30 - 13:30 (15th). Price: €140.

15 December. The country's most wine-loving rock&roll band, The Winedrinkers, formed by Dani Landi (Comando G), Curro Bareño (Fedellos do Couto, Ca' Di Mat and La Mentridana), Luis Gutiérrez (The Wine Advocate) and Pilar de Haya (Lavinia) among others, is throwing a Christmas party at the Honky Tonk in Madrid (Covarrubias, 24) with good music and a glass of one of Dani and Curro's wines included in the ticket price. Time: 22:00 Price: €10 

17 December. Wine store Goñi in San Sebastián (Aldamar, 3) presents its  Christmas wine market with 21 bodegas and over 70 wines to taste with producers such as Baigorri or Melanie Hickman from Rioja, Recaredo, Rimarts and L'Excellence du Vin in bubbly or Alma Vinos, merchants with wines in several denominations. Time: 10:30-14:00 and 16:30-19:30. Price: €8 (includes a Riedel glass). 

18 December. #AmicsAltaAlella, a non-profit association formed by Alta Alella workers & friends, host a charity concert at the winery (Camí Baix de Tiana s/n) in support of the 31st edition of La Marató TV3, focused on cardiovascular health. The new Rock choir of Alella will sing some Christmas and classic rock versions while guests enjoy an aperitif with AUS Pet-nat and some snacks. Time: 11:30 to 15:00 Price: €5

19 December. Dani Corman, owner of Essencia Wine in San Sebastian (General Echagüe, 2) hosts a special Christmas tasting with the following wines: Les Noëls de Montbenault 2014 by Richard Leroy, Pie Franco 2020 by Casa Castillo, Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2014 by Bachelet-Monnot, Fino Jarana from the 1960s by Lustau, Champagne Cuvée Louis Tarlant 2004 and Aszu 5 Puttonyos 1992 by Disznoko. Time: 18:30 Precio: €125 Information and bookings on +34 667 982506

20 December. Luis Vida will be today at Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presenting a tasting of tinaja wines with the following cuvées: Mengoba Las Tinajas, Parotet, Tadeo Tinaja, El Templari de Barbara Fores, Pureza Ánfora de Casa Agrícola, Amphora Brisat, Zinca de Ánfora, Candelecho Tinaja, El Santillo or Tinaja de Zaleo. Time: 19:00 Price: €35

21 December. Restaurant Los Cabezudos in Zaragoza (Antonio Agustín 12-14) presents a paired dinner with seven champagnes, among them magnums of Cristal or Dom Perignon, with luxury products like caviar, oysters, cured lomo 5 Jotas or wild mushrooms. The tasting will be led by Master of Wine Fernando Mora and sommelier Manu Jiménez. Time: 21:00 Price: €270 € + VAT Bookings on +34 652 954923

22 December. If you would like to start the festive season with purple teeth and happy memories, Fintan Kerr is hosting his Fintan's Fridge Tasting in Barcelona with the following wines: Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett 2019, Samuel Billaud Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2017, Comando G Rozas 1er 2018, Alain Graillot “La Guiraude” 2016, Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo 2016 y R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña Bosconia 2004. Time: 19:00 Price: €40  Book your spot via Whatsapp on +34 608234887

28 December. Celler El Tros in Barcelona (Mallorca, 303) adds some extra cheer to the Christmas week with a tasting of Catalan sparkling wines with cuvées from DO Cava, Corpinnat and Classic Penedès. Time: 19:30 Price: €35