Wine tastings in July 2018

Summer is already here and wine events tend to be more fun-oriented with festivals focusing on music and wine intertwined with other events. Winelovers working in July as well as those on holiday will have many opportunities to enjoy at least one of the activities taking place across the country this month. Remember to return to this page for updates - Spanish Wine Lover doesn’t go on holiday in July!

2 July. Wine store El Buen Gusto in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) hosts an en primeur sale for professionals but they have reserved a few tickets for wine lovers to taste barrel samples. The producers with en primeur wines at the store are Emilio Moro, Cepa 21, Teso La Monja, Viñedos de Páganos, Sierra Cantabria, Dominio de Es, Contador, Pago de Carraovejas, Ossian, Álvaro Palacios, Descendientes de J. Palacios and half a dozen grower champagnes.

2, 9, 16 and 23 July. Throughout July, wine store Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) in Madrid will serve selected wines by the glass at €2.50. There will be a new theme each week. The series starts on Monday 2nd with new Ribera del Duero wines, followed by worldwide sparkling wines, oddities and white wines from Italy. Hours: 12:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:30.

3 July. Restaurant Pura Cepa in Murcia (Plaza Cristo del Rescate, 8) has invited Rioja winegrower Abel Mendoza to host a paired dinner where he will explain his work philosophy and the wines he makes in his 20 hectares of vineyards in the Sonsierra. Time: 21:00 Price: €50. Bookings on +34 968 217397

3-6 July. Fundación Universidad de La Rioja in Logroño hosts a summer course called Wine tourism: with what?, for whom? and for what? with a series of practical examples such as the Haro Wine Tasting Experience, the Vivanco Museum or Bodegas Lecea’s wine tourism programme. Talks and debates are also programmed with trade professionals such as profesionales del sector como el anthropologist Luis Vicente Elías, the president of Rioja Alavesa Wine Route, Mª Asun Saenz de Samaniego, and sociologist Lluís Tolosa among others. Further information on +34 941 299 717

5 July. Summer reds is the theme of the tasting today at Vila Viniteca in Barcelona (Agullers, 7) with the following wines available: Cara Nord Trepat 2016 (DO Conca de Barberà), Descendientes de J. Palacios Corullon 2015 (DO Bierzo), Reina de los Deseos 2015 (DO Vinos de Madrid), Mataborricos 2015 (Sierra de Gredos, Madrid), Celler del Roure Parotet Vermell 2016 (DO Valencia), Gallinas y Focas 2015 (VT Mallorca) and Morey-Blanc Clos du Chapitre (Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru) Time: 20:00 Price: €39

5 July. As part of the Alella Summer Festival (Barcelona), producer Alta Alella hosts a concert by singer-songwriter Paula Valls. The concert will be held at El Celler de les Aus, the cellar housing this producer’s natural wines. As well as the music, participants will be able to enjoy the food served at the foodtrucks in the estate. Time: 20:00 (concert at 22:00) Price: €15

5,12,19 and 26 July. Bodegas Franco-Españolas opens the doors of its cellars in Logroño to show four films in original version with subtitles preceded by a gastrobar, a wine bar and tailor-made sessions with DJs. Tickets can be purchased in advance on +34 941 251290 Time:19:30. Price: €6 each film.

6-8 July. Vilafranca del Penedès near Barcelona welcomes summer with the festival Banc Sabadell Vijazz Penedès, which blends in wine and cava with national and international jazz music. As well as listening to good music, the town’s Jaume I Square will be the place to go for the Wine & Cava Festival, with over 40 producers from DO Penedès and DO Cava offering around 300 wines paired with gourmet products such as ham, cheese, foie, anchovies and sushi.

6 July - 4 August. The town of Roses (Girona) and other locations nearby host the Sons del Món Festival with artists such as Michael Nymann, Inner Circle or Gloria Gaynor. During the concerts, wines from Empordà will be served. Additionally, four local producers -Celler d’en Guilla, Celler Vinya del Aspres, Celler Martin Faixo and Celler Espelt- host their own gigs with artists Manu Guix, Judit Neddermann, Paula Valls and Mª del Mar Bonet. A glass of wine is included in the ticket.

6 July - 22 September. For sherry lovers, Taberna der Guerrita and its Sacristía are a legendary place in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The man in charge of this wine paradise is Armando Guerra, who puts together a top-class tasting calendar every summer. This year commences with a tasting led by Luis Gutiérrez, taster for The Wine Advocate (20:00) and continues the following day with Dirk Niepoort (12:00). On July 14 it is the turn of  Territorio Albariza, with producers such as Callejuela, Forlong, Primitivo Collantes, Cota 45, Willy Pérez, De la Riva Williams & Humbert, Barbadillo and Muchada-Léclapart. Bertrand Sourdais (27 July) and Sarah-Jane Evans (28 July) close the tastings this month. Information and bookings on info@lasacristia.es

7 July. Mas Figueres, a country hotel in Marçà (Tarragona) hosts the eighth edition of VIdeNIT with the presence of 19 producers from Priorat, Montsant and a guest producer from Terra Alta: Acústic Celler, Álvaro Palacios, Bodega Mas Alta, Celler Cal Pla, Celler Comunica, Celler Dosterras, Celler La Cova dels Vins, Celler La Placeta, Celler Vall Llach, Celler Vermunver, Cims de Porrera, Clos Galena, Clos de l’Obac, Cooperativa Falset-Marcà, Josep Grau Viticultor, La Conreria d’Scala Dei, Capçanes, L’Infernal, Sara i René Viticultors, Trossos del Priorat, Vinyes Domènech, Vins del Tros de Terra Alta and Molí d’oli Miró-Cubells. Snacks and live music are also part of the show. Time: 20:00 Price: €50 Bookings on info@masfigueres.com

8 and 29 July. Bodega Bentomiz in Sierra de Málaga, near Sayalonga, combines wine and music at their Mountain Wine & Music 2018 with a series of concerts at their cellar throughout the summer. This month starts with jazz and the band Quartzteto (8th July) followed by flamenco. Time: 18:00 Price: €35 (includes concert, glass of wine and a tapa) Information and bookings on +34 951 386 706

11 de julio. The University of the Basque Country hosts a summer course at Centro Villa Lucía in Laguardia (Álava) about the defense of historic vineyards with the presence of speakers such as Fernando Mora MW, Rafael García (Vitis Navarra) and Gonzaga Santesteban (UPNA), Jacques Gautier (INAO) and Alfredo Silva (IVPD). A video about traditional vineyards will be showed as well as the documentary Fermentación Espontánea by Clara Isamat. Time: 08:45-19:30. Free activity.

11-13 July. Complutense University (UCM) has programmed a summer course in El Escorial near Madrid called Trends and innovation in the world of wine. Directed by José Luis Priego Bermejo, professor at the UCM’s Chemistry School, the course features tastings, presentations and round tables with wine professionals like Fernando Rodríguez Cremades (Bodegas Pradorey), Daniel Expósito (Dominio de la Vega), Carlos González (Guía Peñín), Eva Navascués (Pago de Carraovejas) or chef Jesús Almagro, among others.

12 and 26 July. Wine store in Valencia Entrevins (Calle de la Paz, 7) suggests a tasting journey to discover the evolution of Champagne through different blanc de blancs vintages. On the 12th the wines are: Larmandier-Bernier 2007 Vieilles vignes du Levant, Guiborat 2010 Millésimé, Dhondt-Grellet 2011 Vieilles vignes and Francis Boulard et Fille 2012 Vieilles vignes whereas on the 26th participants will taste the following: Dehours 2007 Maisoncelle, Roger Coulon 2008 Millésimé, Serge Mathieu 2009 Millésimé and Michel Arnould 2011 Carte D’Or. Time: 21:00 Price: €40 € each day

13 July - 4 August. During the weekends of July and August, Festival VinyaSons includes a bunch of music concerts in a dozen wineries across Catalonia with artists such as Judit Neddermann, Marco Mezquida & Sol Picó, Paula Valls, Núria Graham or In Crescendo, combined with tastings and tours of the wineries. Participating wineries are: Can Bas, Llopart, Finca Viladellops, Can Rafols del Caus, Mas Rodó, Albet i Noya, Carol Vallés, Segura Viudas, Martín Faixó, La Vinyeta and Oller del Mas.

14 July. Six producers in DO Ribeiro (Adega Sameirás, Adegas Deseu, Alberte, Antonio Montero, Eduardo Bravo and Viña Costeira) will have a stand a the fifth edition of festival Ribeiro Son de Viño in Barrosa beach in San Vicente do Mar. Artists in the show include Esteban & Manuel, Bifannah, O Sonoro Maxín, Pardo, Marem Ladson and Baiuca. Time: 13:00-05:00 Price: €12 in advance (€15 at the gate)

19 July. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents a tasting of old vintages of white wines to check their evolution. The wines are: Viña Tondonia Reserva blanco 1990, Lusco Pazo Piñeiro 2005, Belondrade y Lurton 2006, Guitian 2007, Anselmann Gewürztraminer Spatlese 2007, Four C Quinta do Cabrei 2009 and Wieninger Nussberg Alte Reben 2013. Time: 19:00 Further information on 914 291 238 

19 July. Bodega Santa Cecilia in Madrid (Blasco de Garay, 74) presents a tasting of Riesling wines by Dr Loosen, one of the leading producers in the Mosel area. The tasting will be led by Manuel Jiménez, named Best Sommelier in Spain in 2017 and will include the following wines: Gray Slate 2016, BlauSchiefer Trocken 2016, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Trocken Alte Reben 2015, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett 2016, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2015 and Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese. Time: 19:00 Price: €25 (€20 members)

20 July. Jon Andoni Rementería, sommelier at restaurant Remenetxe in Gernika and best sommelier in Spain in 2018, presents in Labastida (Rioja Alavesa) a tasting with wines from each producer in the village. The event is part of a series of events that are taking place in Labastida to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the death of Manuel Quintano. Time: 20:00 Price: €25 

25 July. Mostrador de Vila Viniteca in Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 45) hosts a tasting of  blanc de blancs champagnes with the following cuvées: Françoise Joffray Brut, Georges Laval Les Chènes, Selosse Version Originale Grand Cru, Larmandier-Bernier Vieille Vigne du Levant 2008, Tarlant La Vigne d'Antan Brut Nature 2002, Delamotte Collection 2000, Billecart-Salmon 2004 and Deutz Amour de Deutz 2008. Time: 20:00 - 22:00 Price: €80 (€74 € for members)

25 July. With the increasing popularity of WSET courses, Vin Class wine academy presents in Aranda de Duero (Burgos) an introductory Diploma tasting, a level that is not yet available in Spain. The tasting will be held in English and will be led by Laura Kente, director of Yorkshire Wine School. Time: 19:00-21:00 Price: €30 per person. Further information and bookings on +34 947 559616 

27-29 July and 4 August. Wine and food will be two key elements in the 17º  Ribeira Sacra Festival, with artists like Coque Malla, Woods, Freedonia, Morgan or Tulsa, among others. Concerts will be combined with catamaran trips on the river Sil, guided tours and tasting in wineries like Regina Viarum, Algueira or Vía Romana. Prices from €12 (Three day ticket: €40)

28 July. The second edition of Rioja Alavesa-Euskadi Around the Table travels to Elciego (Álava) this year with representations of 15 Basque regions. There will be tastings, stands with local and regional gourmet products for sale, music and children’s activities. To finish the day, there will be a tourist visit and an outdoor concert followed by a dinner (€35).

28 July. The seventh Mostra de Vins del Lloar i les Solanes takes place today in the sports playground of Lloar in Priorat with the presence of the following bodegas: Vinícola del Priorat, Clos 93, Torres Priorat, Portal del Priorat, Celler Escoda-Pallejà, Los Comuns and Casa Gran del Siurana as well as a bunch of small local businesses. Time: 20:00 Price: €6

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 info@spanishwinelover.com