Wine tastings in January 2020

With the Christmas festivities not yet behind us —Spaniards celebrate the Three Wise Men Day on the 6th—, January begins in an austere mood in terms of wine tastings with few events scheduled for the first fortnight of the month. Please come back to this page for further updates —we will add new tastings soon. Happy New Year!

2-5 January. The village of Elvillar in Rioja Alavesa welcomes the new year with Ardobilar 2020, an event to present the new wines produced in the village (5th) as well as several tutored tastings with local winemakers such as Toni Meruelo from Bodegas Lar de Paula (2nd), David Sampedro from Bodegas Bhilar (3rd) and Paulino García (4th). The  tastings will take place on the ground floor of Hogar del Jubilado (19:00-21:00) while the village wine tasting will take place in the local pelota court at 13:00.

2-6 January. A great deal of the music on the stage of Festival Actual in Logroño will be paired with wine and tapas thanks to the participation of places such as Bodegas Franco-Españolas and Wine Fandango with artists like The Limboos, Maui, A Contra Blues, Neuman or Axolotes Mexicanos. Price: free entrance to Wine Fandango and from €10 at Bodegas Franco-Españolas.

3 January. To start the year, wine store Majuelos Singulares in Valladolid presents a tasting of two grower champagnes  and two Catalan sparkling wines: Eric Teillet EgaliT, Maxime Blin Brut Rosé, Castellroig Brut Reserva and Castellroig Reserva Brut Roseta (Sabaté and Coca). The tasting will be accompanied by four pinchos and French products from Hexamania. Where: Val Market Entrance. Time: 20:30 Price: €25  Information and ticket sales at the stand Menganita de Cual.

9 January. The opening of inscriptions for the 13th Vila Viniteca Tasting Contest in Pairs which will take place on March 1st, on the eve of La Música del Vi, in Barcelona opens today. The contest is open to worldwide trade professionals and wine aficionados with a €30,000 prize for the winners. Inscriptions cost €200 per couple and must be done on the Vila Viniteca online store from 10:00. Tickets fly so be sure to log in on the dot if you want to grab a space.

13 January. The Association of Navarra Sommeliers presents a tasting of Ribeira Sacra wines conducted by the president of the appellation, José Manuel Rodríguez, with the following wines: Peza do Rei Blanco Summum 2018 from Adega Cachín, Finca Cuarta by Rubén Moure Godello Barrica 2017 from Rubén Moure Fernández, Abadía da Cova Mencía 2017 from Adegas Moure, P Ponte da Boga Mencía 2017 from Adega Ponte da Boga, Lalama Mencía Barrica 2015 from Dominio do Bibei and Rectoral from Amandi Mencía Barrica 2014 from Bodegas Rectoral de Amandi. After the tasting there will be a dinner. Where: Hotel Don Carlos in Huarte, on the outskirts of Pamplona. Time: 19:00 Price: €50 for the tasting (members €30) and €25 for the dinner. Inscriptions before January 8th via email: actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com

13-15 January. As part of Enofusión 2020, a side trade meeting which is part of Madrid Fusión, there will be various activities as well as tastings of Codorníu Gran Reserva cavas, Albillo whites from Ribera del Duero, Pago de Carraovejas, Vega Sicilia or wines from Tenerife, among others. There will also be spaces link TopWineSpain (The Best Wines from Spain according to wine critic Carlos Delgado) and discussion panels under Enovisión where wine professionals, authorities and consulting groups will debate the state of the wine sector. Check the full program on the link above. Price: €50 entrance to Enofusión, € 30 to Enovisión and various prices for the tastings.

16 January. The first tasting of the year hosted by Fintan Kerr, also known on social media as Wine Cuentista, includes a selection of wines made between 2010 and 2017 in various wine growing areas around the world: Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis 2017, Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent 2016, El Enemigo Cabernet Franc 2015, Château Haut Selve 2014, Bibbiano Gran Selezione Vigna del Capannino 2013 and La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva, Selección Especial 2010. Where: Aguita Vins in Barcelona (Carrer de la Volta d'en Colomines, 2). Time: 19:00 Price: €30

17 and 24 January. The Asociación de Amigos del Vino from Alcobendas in Madrid organizes at its headquarters in Francisco Largo Caballero, 44 (Agrupación PSOE, Alcobendas) a double session with the wines of one of the "new" great names of Champagne: Jacques Lassaigne. These are the wines to be enjoyed at the first tasting: Colline Inspirée NB, Le Cotet NV, Les Papiles Insolites 2016, Coteaux Champenois 2015, L'Exercise NV, Alto Grande Cote 2012, Clos Sainte-Sophie 2011. On the 24th, at the Malamadre restaurant (Clara Campoamor, 6, San Sebastian de los Reyes), it will be the turn of the Brut Reserve NV as well as millesimés from 2006 to 2010 Price: €55 (€45 for members) on the 17th and €40 (€30 for members) on the 24th, which will be followed by a dinner (€35). More information and reservations on the phone 669 404 169

20-21 January. Conferences, round tables, tastings and ideas to improve the way Catalan wine is communicated will be present at #Comuvicat, an event aimed at communicators, DOs, sommeliers, restaurateurs, wineries and merchants. Participants include producers and winemakers such as Xavier Gramona, Sergi Colet, Mireia and Miquel Torres, Ruben Parera or Joan Ignasi Domenech, sommeliers such as Audrey Doré, Clara Isamat or Macarena Muñoz and journalists like Ruth Troyano, Silvia Culell, Ramon Francàs or Jordi Bes, among others. There will also be a lunch on the 21st at Monvínic paired with four wines presented by their winemakers (€80). The event will be held at Colegio de Periodistas de Catalunya (Rambla de Catalunya, 10. Barcelona). Price: €200 

22 January. Wine store Lavinia in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) resumes its activities in 2020 with a tasting of wines from the new generation of wine growers, looking into the human side of each bottle and including local dishes to pair with the growers' wines. These are the wines on the tasting: Albamar Finca O Pereiro 2018 Blanco (DO Rías Baixas), Ca Di Mat Los Peros 2017 Blanco (DO Vinos de Madrid), Akilia Villa San Lorenzo 2016 Tinto (DO Bierzo), Tentenublo Xérico 2017 Tinto (DOCa Rioja), Alvar de Dios Camino de los Arrieros 2017 Tinto (VDLT Castilla y León), A Pie de Tierra A Dos Manos 2017 Tinto (DO Méntrida) y Antier Red Vintage 2015 Tinto (Vino de España).. Time: 19:00-21:00 Price: €40

22 January. Bodegas Gratias presents its wines at La Caníbal and, among them, one they have made with Macabeo grapes for one of the taps they have at this bar and restaurant in the centre of Madrid (Argumosa, 28). Gratias define themselves as a "sustainable and responsible project that is aware of the rural environment". They work with traditional local varieties that are virtually extinct in their region, Manchuela, on the boundary between Castilla-la Mancha and Valencia, as well as others that are more widely planted in this area. Attendance is free but booking is required on info@lacanibal.com.

22-23 January. Under the name "The Wines that Sparniards Drink", Vináliti tasting school in Málaga (Cortina del Muelle, 7) presents a blind tasting of 10 of the top selling or top scoring wines in the country. Time: 20:30. Further information on +34 952 218906 

27 January. At their store on Príncipe de Vergara 211 in Madrid, Enoteca Barolo presents a tasting of Barolos from the 2014 vintage conducted by Juancho Asenjo with the following cuvées: Vajra Bricco delle Viole 2014 Barolo, Roberto Voerzio La Serra 2014 La Morra, Brovia Unio 2014 Castiglione Falletto, Giuseppe Mascarello Monprivato 2014 Castiglione Falletto, Schiavenza Broglio 2014 Serralunga and Massolino Margueria 2014 Serralunga. Time: 20:30 Price: €50

28 January. Sommelier Luis García de la Navarra leads a tasting at the Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) to introduce some of the main red wine releases in Spain in 2019: Arzuaga and its wine Laderas del Norte,  Ysios Los Prados from Rioja, Pepe Mendoza and his wine El Veneno, Dominio de Cair and its wine Selección La Aguilera, La Rioja Alta and Viña Arana Gran Reserva, Muri Veteres from Bodegas Carchelo in Jumilla, Sara Peña red from Ribeiro or Anibal de Otero and his Viña Los Fornos and Cantariña Vinos de Familia and Viña de los Pinos from Bierzo. Time: 19:00 Price: €35 (members € 20)

30 January. Monvinic in Barcelona (Diputació, 249) hosts an Initiation to Tasting led by its sommelier César Cánovas with a substantial selection of wines of different styles, varieties and wine-producing areas in Europe: Gaia Santorini Wild 2014 (Assyrtiko, Greece), Grossot Chablis 2016 (Chardonnay, France), Dezi Marche Solo 2002 (Sangiovese, Italy), Carles Andreu Conca de Barberà Trepat 2017 (Trepat, Spain), Gentilini Kefallonia Eclipse 2016 (Mavrodaphne, Greece), Movia Primorska Sauvignon Blanc 2003 (Sauvignon Blanc, Slovenia), Niepoort Porto Ruby (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Portugal) and Mas Bertran Penedès Balma Brut Nature Reserve (Macabeu, Parellada, Xarel.lo, Spain). Time: 20:00 Price: €35

31 January. Wine store La Ruta del Vino (Arrabal, 18) in Santander organizes a duel Ribera del Duero vs Rioja, a tasting where surprises are not unusual. Time: 20:30 Price: €30 Inscriptions on +34 942 216503

31 January. Wine store El Buen Gusto Vinos in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) has invited Óscar Cárdenas, sommelier at Familia Luis Cañas, to present the new single-vineyard limited production wines made by the group from their vineyards in Ribera del Duero and Rioja: Dominio de Cair "Cruz del Pendón" 2014, Amaren Carraquintana 2017, Amaren Chelus 2017, Amaren El Regollar and Luis Cañas El Palacio 2017. Time: 20:00 Price: €25 Bookings and information on +34 983 377 199

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