Wine tastings in June 2016

La Taberna der Guerrita launches its unmissable summer tastings calendar with a tasting of wines from the Rhône followed by others from leading critics and producers such as Luis Gutiérrez, Ramiro Ibáñez or José Luis Mateo. Meanwhile in Rioja, locals and visitors in Haro will dress in white to take part in the infamous Wine Battle.

These are some of the leading events for wine lovers in Spain during the month of July, but remember we update the calendar throughout the month as we hear of new tastings and festivals. Come back to read further updates!

2 June. Spain boasts a great diversity of regions where good quality white wines are produced, but opportunities to drink them mature are rare. Sommelier David Martínez, from El Mostrador de Vila Viniteca in Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 45) will lead a tasting to follow the evolution of some mature white wines from Spain: Clos d'Agon Blanc 2008 (DO Catalunya), Belondrade y Lurton 2005 (DO Rueda), José María Fonseca 2007 Colección 75 Aniversario (DO Rías Baixas), Zárate El Palomar Albariño 2005 (DO Rías Baixas), Allende Blanco 2007 (DOCa Rioja), Viña Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva 1996 (DOCa Rioja) and Bodegas Franco Españolas Viña Soledad 1964 (DOCa Rioja) Time: 20:00-22:00 Price: 43.00€ (Special price for El Club members: 39 €)

2 June - 22 July. Logroño holds the ninth edition of Riojano, Joven y Fresco (Young and Fresh Rioja) to encourage young people to drink responsibly. Over 30 producers will be present at the event, held in the Siete Infantes district. For €9, partygoers will receive a printed wine glass and five tokens to exchange for wine as well as tapas and dishes made with local products. The party will travel to Santander on June 24 and to other cities across northern Spain during the summer. Tickets can be purchased on this link or on the day.  Hours: 19:00 - 21:30

3 June. Wine store La Ruta del Vino in Santander (Arrabal, 18) organizes a tasting of Rieslings made by some leading producers in six different regions of the world. Time: 20:45 Bookings on +34 942 216503

4 June. The Sherry Appellation holds a new Introductory Sherry course for beginners wanting to learn about these fantástico wines. Over two hours, participants will learn about vinegrowing, production and aging and will do a tasting of different styles of sherries. Booking is necessary. Call +34 956 33 20 50 or email your details to vinjerez@sherry.org. Time: 12:00-14:00. Price: €12

4 June. The Fira del Vi Solidari (Charity Wine Festival) is born under the auspices of seven producers -Coca i Fitó, Dit Celler, Cellers Can Blau, El Vi a Punt, Celler El Masroig and Mas de L’Abundància- who want to do their bit for medical investigations to fight against children’s cancer through the charity Obra Social de Sant Joan de Deu. During the festival, which will be held in Ban-cal d’alegro del Masroig, participants will be able to taste the wines of these seven wineries and purchase a charity wine made by the seven winemakers with labels designed by local students. Time: 10:30-14:00 and then from 17:30 onwards.

8 June. Jaime Fernández, aka @JimmyBubbles, is one of the halves of the duo who reached the third position in the Vila Viniteca Tasting in Pairs competition held in Barcelona last April. Sommelier Pilar Cavero, who runs RdGStore in Madrid (Jorge Juan, 3) lets him take centre stage at the shop today so this great aficionado and taster with no links to the wine trade leads a blind tasting. The event is expected to be broadcast on Periscope by @TaoPlaton Time: 19:30 Price: €10

9 June. José Ramón Calvo, winemaker at Gorka Izagirre in the appellation Bizkaiko Txakolina, presents a tasting of this Basque producer's wines at Bodega Urbana in Bilbao (Gran Vía, 66). The tasting includes its young txakoli plus its lees and aging wines (G22 and 42 By Enero Atxa, both from vintages 2013 and 2014)  and two vintages (2013 and 2014) of Arima, its late harvest sweet txakoli. The tasting will be followed by a snack. Price: €20 Inscriptions on +34 944 416181

10 June.  The Asociación de Amigos de la Vid y el Vino in the Madrid suburb of Alcobendas (Francisco Largo Caballero, 44) organizes a tasting of old Remelluri wines, sourced form the winery that is now managed by winemaker Telmo Rodríguez. The following wines and vintages will be tasted: Remelluri Reserva 1976, 1984, 1987, 2009 and Remelluri Gran Reserva 1981 and 2009. Time: 19:00 Price: €30 non members (€25 for members) Further information on +34 669404169

10 June. Wine retailer La Mercería in Boadilla del Monte (Avenida Siglo XXI, 4) near Madrid presents a tasting with the new vintages of Abadía Retuerta plus an old vintage and a special wine. The tasting will be led by Miguel Gavito, sales director at the winery, and will include the following wines: Abadía Retuerta Selección Especial 2012, Pago Garduña 2013, Pago Negralada 2013, Pago Valdebellón 2013, Blanco Le Domaine 2014, Abadía Retuerta Selección Especial 1996 and Pago Valdebellón Magnum 2011. Time: 20:00 Price: €29 Bookings on +34 91 4495006

10-19 June. The fifth edition of Vinofest Navarra takes place in San Sebastián with a special promotion of wines from the DO Navarra paired with pintxos made with Navarra ingredients in over 40 bars in the Basque city at a cost of €2.70 per pintxo. Additionally, on 15 June there will be a presentation of Navarra wines at Hotel María Cristina in San Sebastian with the presence of producers such as Castillo de Monjardín, Príncipe de Viana, Iñurrieta, Máximo Abete or Pago de Larrainzar, among others as well as a tasting of wines and a show cooking with Navarra vegetables and wines. Opening hours: 17:00 - 21:00

14 June. Espai Penedès in Barcelona (Muntaner, 21) presents a tasting of L’Escala an-chovies paired with Catalan wines: El Rocallis ay Can Ràfols dels Caus; Xarel·lo vermell by Can Descregut; Gran Reserva Brut Nature 2011 by Canals i Munné; Masia Freyé Muscat i Parellada by Domènech Vidal and Montonega 2013 by Mas Rodó. Time: 20:00 Price: €19

15 June. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) offers a chance to try several vintages of Les Terrassses, one of the wines that Álvaro Palacios makes in Priorat. The vertical tasting will be led by Natalio del Álamo and will allow to appreciate the evolution potential of this wine made by Spain's most prominent winemaker abroad. Time: 19:00 Price: €40 (€20 for members)

16 June. Bodega Santa Cecilia in Madrid (Blasco de Garay, 74) has organized a vertical tasting of some of the wines made by Alejandro Fernández, one of Ribera’s pioneers in the seventies and an essential figure in the world of wine in Spain with Pesquera. The winery’s marketing director, Miguel Ángel Bocos, will present the following wines: Tinto Pesquera Reserva 1994, Tinto Pesquera Reserva 2001, Tinto Pesquera Reserva 2003, Tinto Pesquera Reserva 2004, Tinto Pesquera Reserva 2006, Alejairen 2013 and La Golosa 2004. Price: €24 (€19 for members). Time: 19:00 - 21:00

16 June. Raúl Pérez is one of the most dynamic winemakers in Spain, but his projects extend beyond the borders onto countries like Portugal or South Africa.  La Tintorería de Vinos (Gurtubay, 4) in Madrid presents today a vertical tasting of Ultreia Douro, which he makes in partnership with Dirk Niepoort, with the following vintages: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 y 2013. Time: 20:30 Price: €35

16 June.  Restaurant La Buena Vida in El Puerto de Santa María (Vistahermosa Shopping Mall) organizes, along with Cuatrogatos Wine Club, a blind tasting of four reds from Galicia, Rioja, Alicante and France, paired with some tapas. Time: 21:30 Price: €15 Bookings on +34 956 871 354

16, 23 and 30 June. Bodegas Franco-Españolas relaunches its summer cinema evenings at the winery in Logroño (Cabo Noval, 2) with three French classics: Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot, À bout de souffle y La nuit américaine. Doors open at 19:00 with music by Maldeamores DJ while film sessions start at 21:45. Price per session: €4 and €14 for the three sessions. Bookings on +34 941 251290

17 June. A popular tasting of the winners at the sixth Ecovino Awards, which aim to encourage organic wine consumption, will take place at Riojaforum Logroño (San Millán, 25). The winning wines will be revealed on 3 June and will be available for tasting at the event. Tickets cost €10 and include a glass, five wine servings and three pintxos prepared by local chef Ventura Martínez. Time: 19:30

20 June. Barcelona’s Maritime Museum (Av. de les Drassanes s/n) holds the Vinum Nature Festival where participants will be able to taste organic wines paired with tapas. Ticket prices range between €15 and €35. Entrance is free for children under 16 years of age who are accompanied by and adult; for them, organic must will be available for tasting. Time: 12:00 - 20:00

20 June. Wine space  Monvínic (Diputación, 249) in Barcelona hosts a tasting to discover some of the world's historic styles of wines, represented by producers which maintain the tradition alive. The tasting, led by César Cánovas, includes the following wines: El Grifo Lanzarote Canari (España); Bibbiano Vin Santo del Chianti Classico San Lorenzo a Bibbiano 2007 (Italia); Hatzigiourgiu Limonos Ifestou Gnossis 2006 (Grecia); Chambers Rosewood Rutherglen (Australia); Grant Burge Barossa Valley Aged Tawny (Australia); Boplaas Western Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2010 (Sudáfrica); Graham's Port Vintage 1997 Magnum (Portugal); Samuel Tinon Tokaj Szamorodny Dry 2007 (Hungría); Callejuela Amontillado La Casilla (España) y Henriques & Henrique Madeira Boal 15 years (Portugal) Time: 20:00 Price : €65

20 June. Hotel Las Arenas in Valencia hosts the third Fiesta Placer Bobal organized by the DO Utiel-Requena with the presence of 30 wineries from the region. The event is open to the public between 19.00-21:30

22 June. Casa Montaña restaurant in Valencia (José Benlliure, 69) organizes a tasting of South African wines such as A.N. Chenin Blanc 2015, A.N. Pinotage 2014, Longridge Chardonnay 2014, Constantia Glen Three 2012 and Upland Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from various regions. Time: 19:30 Free tasting but booking necessary on +34 96 367 2314

22 June. Manuel Blasco, sommelier at DO Somontano, presents at TomeVinos store on Panama St in Madrid a tasting to discover this area with five wines  from different producers. The tasting is free but booking necessary is necessary on +34 91 727 3058

23 June. Madrid wine store Lavinia (Ortega y Gasset, 16) presents a tasting of wines from the Canary Islands made by Borja Pérez and Victoria Torres, two young producers based in Tenerife and La Palma, respectively, who are making waves with their personal, volcanic style wines made with local varieties. The following wines will be tasted: Matias I Torres Albillo Criollo 2013, Ignios Orígenes Marmajuelo 2012, Matias I Torres Negramoll tinto, 2012; Ignios Orígenes Listán Negro Vendimia Seleccionada 2013, Ignios Orígenes Baboso 2013 and Igneos Orígenes Listan Blanco Dulce 2011. Time: 18:30 Price: €35

23 June. Sushi chef Naomi Uemura is going to prepare special pieces of sushi for this tasting of Spanish white wines organized by Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211). It will include two foie nigiri topped with caramelized apple paired with Sanboal 2014 (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León) braised salmon nigiri with Amphora Roja 2015 (Parés Baltá, DO Penedès), tuna nigiri with wasabi ice-cream paired with Stolen Raïm (Tom Rimbau 2013), avocado cream and calamari maki with Las Yolas 2013 (Dominio del Urogallo), mushroom and black truffle maki  with Salvaxe 2013 (Xosé Louis Sebio, DO Ribeiro) and homemade mochi with azuki bean and Moscatel Promesa (Valdespino, DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry). Time: 20:30 Price: €45 Bookings on +34 917 451 927

24 June. As part of the celebrations of Toledo being this year's gastro capital of Spain, La Mancha appellation has organized a tasting of wines, cheese and other La Mancha products in the city's San Marcos Cultural Centre. Up to 21 wineries will be present in Toledo today, including Bodegas El Progreso, Viñedos y Bodegas Muñoz, El Vínculo de Pesquera or Virgen de las Viñas. Time: 11:00 - 21:00

24 June - 2 September. Most sherry lovers are familiar or have heard of Taberna der Guerrita in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Exclusive sacas, unique bottles, limited productions and quirky bottles abound in this temple of good taste. The man behind this sherry heaven is Armando Guerra, who prepares an annual summer tasting calendar to die for with some of the leading wine figures in Spain. The calendar kicks off with a photographic exhibition of the vineyards of Sanlúcar by Estanis Núñez (19:30, free entrance) and a tasting of Rhône wines by Ignacio Villalgordo (21:00, €50) followed by names such as Luis Gutiérrez (Burgundy Grand Crus) Ramiro Ibáñez (Albarizatorio in Cota 45) and José Luis Mateo (Quinta da Muradella), among others. Further information and bookings on +34 956 131 335

25 June. Bodegas Baigorri in Samaniego (Rioja Alavesa) holds in its beautiful glass with views of the Rioja vineyards a morning of yoga followed by a guided tour of the winery and tasting menu in their restaurant paired with its rosé 2015, Blanco Fermentado en Barrica 2013, Maceración Carbónica 2015 and Crianza 2012. Time: 10:15-14:00  Price: €65

25 and 26 June. The town of Barberà de la Conca (Tarragona) organizes the 7th Festa del Trepat with talks, vineyard tours, art show, children's activities, guided tours to the village winery, concerts, theatre and tastings. There will be over a dozen wineries at the festival including Carlania, Gatzara or Vins de Pedra. You can check the programme on this link.

28 June. Wine store Majuelos Singulares in Valladolid (San Ignacio, 9) presents a tasting with Juan Manuel Hidalgo, one of the owners of Bodegas Emilio Hidalgo from Jerez, with the following sherries: Sobre Tablas, Fino Hidalgo, Fino La Panesa, Amontillado El Tresillo, Oloroso Villapanés and Palo Cortado Marqués de Rodil. The wines will be accompanied by tapas. Time: 20:00 Price: €17 (€15 booking on +34 616 675 123 before 25th June)

28 June. The Best Young Wines from Spain Fair will be held today in Madrid and includes a selection of wines which took part in this year's 2015 vintage organized by the Unión Española de Catadores. The tasting is open to professionals and aficionados who register for the event. Location: Courtyard by Marriott Madrid Princesa (C/ Princesa 40). Time: 11:30 to 14:30 and 16:00 to 20:00

28 June. Bodega Urbana in Bilbao (Gran Vía, 66) presents a tasting of wines and hand-smoked fine foods by Keia (The Scottish salmon is delicious and the duck margen sounds interesting). As for the wines, they will be Chateau Crabitey 2015 Graves, Lecea Viura Crianza 2013, Guernica 3 Partes, Tolo do Xisto 2014 and Chateau Sigalas Rabaud 2004. Time: 20:00 Price: €35 Bookings on +34 94 4416181 

29 June. Restaurant Guardaviñas in Logroño (Marqués de San Nicolás, 47) presents a tasting of six wines made with Pinot Noir in varous wine regions. At the end of the tasting, there will be a selection of dishes to share and enjoy. Time: 20:30 Price: €40

29 June. Every year on this date Haro holds its traditional Battle of Wine with around 10,000 people marching up to the fields of San Felices, on the outskirts of this Rioja town, with one thing in mind: to throw as much wine to each other as possible -130,000 litres last year. The Battle of Wine, as it is known, starts with a mass early in the morning and finishes with a popular lunch. Thousands of young locals attend but the fiesta is increasingly enjoyed by foreign tourists, mostly from Australia and the US. Further details about the fiesta on this link.

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