Wine tastings in June 2017

The warm, sunny weather seems like an invitation to host wine festivals for the general public across the country. In the south, la Taberna der Guerrita hosts its unmissable summer tastings calendar; this year, they have also planned to host Innoble Wine Fest, an informal festival with wine, music and a bunch of producers from the region and beyond. Meanwhile in Rioja, at the opposite end of the country, locals and visitors in Haro will dress in white to take part in the infamous Wine Battle held in the town every 29 June.

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!

31 May - 1 June. Restaurant Surtopía in Madrid (Núñez de Balboa, 106) has invited Ramiro Ibáñez (Cota 45) to present five of his wines sourced from the albariza soils of Sanlúcar paired with five dishes prepared by chef José Calleja. Price: €60 Bookings on +34 915 630364

1 June. Logroño holds the ninth edition of Riojano, Joven y Fresco (Young and Fresh Rioja) to encourage young people to drink responsibly. Over 26 producers will be present at the event, held in the Siete Infantes district in Logroño. 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 San Sebastián on June 16 and later to Bilbao and Santander. Hours: 19:00 - 21:30

2 June. Wine store Vinicia in Lleida (Humbert Torres, 19) organizes a blind tasting with premium wines chosen by sommelier Gregori Albareda. Time: 21:00 Price: €25 Further information on +34 973 247 554

2 June. For the second year running, the DO Catalunya hosts the Electronic Wine Sunset, a fiesta for the younger crowds within the Temps de Vi festival (9-11 June), in which over 40 producers will present their wines, with the chance to do paired tastings on board a boat. The Electronic Wine Sunset starts at 19:00 at Espai Far in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona) with DJ Ven tu Music and wines from the region.

2 June. Wine merchant Tiza y Flor in Alicante (César Elguezábal, 31) says goodbye to tastings at its store with a final tasting of  wines from Italy, France and Germany led by Daniel Monsonís, from Eclèctic Vins. The wines will be: Elvio Cogno Barbera d´Alba 2015, Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera 2013, Fabio Gea Veja Dota 2013 (Langhe), Henri Richard Coteaux Bourguignons 2015, Selbach Oster Spätlese Schlossberg 2008 and Selbach Oster Auslese Schlossberg 2013. Time: 19:00 Price: €40

3 June. Producers in Gratallops along withe the local authorities organize the first edition of Tastets de Gratallops, a small fair with wines from this town in DOQ Priorat accompanied by other local products. Some of the producers who will be at the tasting are Álvaro Palacios, Clos Figueras, Clos Mogador, Mas Igneus, Meritxell Pallejà or Trossos del Priorat. Further information and bookings on this email address: tastetsdegratallops@gmail.com Time: 17:00 - 21:00 Price: €20  

3-4 June. A new edition of the festival Arrels del Vi will be held in San Martí d’Empuries in the Empordà region (Girona) with a chance to taste wines from the main producers in the area. Tickets cost €20 and include a Riedel glass, a guided tour of the Ruïnes d’Empúries and a tasting of “Mulsum” (Roman wine), children’s workshops, a blending activity with Jordi Esteve, tapas from locally caught anchovies and and a €5 voucher to spend on wines at the fair. Time: from 12:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 21:30

5 June. Wine store El Buen Gusto in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) presents a tasting with Rafael Palacios who will bring his Valdeorras wines, some of them taken from the barrel: Louro 2016, As Sortes 2015 and 2016, Antiga 2016, Sorte Souto 2016 late harvest and Norte O Soro 2016. Time: 20:00 Price: €25 Further information on +34 983 377 199

5 June. Over 50 producers and distributors will attend Experiencia Verema in Madrid (Hotel The Westin Palace) with their wines. The show will also host three led tastings with Bodegas Ramón Bilbao, Bodegas Torres, Viña Costeira and DO Campo de Borja. Time: 12:00-21:00. Price: €5 online and €10 at the gate.

6 June. Ten well-known Spanish sommeliers —Custodio Zamarra, David Robledo, Fernando Gurucharri, Javier Gila, Jesús flores, Paco del Castillo, Paco Patón, Rut Cotroneo, María José Huertas and Silvia García— will be today at Hotel Villa Real in Madrid Plaza de las Cortes, 10) presenting some of their favourite for a good cause. All of the proceeds will be donated to The Kobo Trust, a charity helping children in Kenya. Time: 17:00 Price: €100 Bookings and donations on +34 678 927841

8 June. La Ruta del Vino in Santander (Arrabal, 18) organizes a tasting led by Jean Marcos with wines from the southeast of France such as Matassa or Domaine de Majas. Time: 20:45 Further information on +34 942 216503

9 June. Store and wine bar Wine Attack in Madrid (Limón, 30) has invited  Alberto Ruiz, wine merchant at Les Caves de Pyrene, to present a tasting of international natural wines: Riesling Klasika 2014, Milan Nestarec (Czech Republic), Straight no Chaser Blanc 2015, Hughes Béguet 2015 (France), Palmento 2015, Vino di Anna (Italy) and Pipeño 2015, Cacique Maravilla (Chile). The four wines on the tasting will be sold on the day with a 10% discount and no corking fee. By the glass: €2. Time: 20:30 Bookings on +34 910 560 241

9 June. Centro Integral del Vino in Ronda (Dolores Ibarruri, 6) hosts Ronda Vino a Vino, a tasting event with the presence of the following producers from this area in Málaga: Descalzos Viejos, Bodegas Lunares de Ronda, La Melonera, Bodega Cezar, Bodega Vetas, Bodega Fernández Bolet, Bodega Doña Felisa, Chinchilla Red Wine, Bodega Gonzalo Beltrán, Bodega F. Schatz, Bodega Joaquín Fernández, Bodega Conra, Bodegas Excelencia, Bodega Cortijo los Aguilares, Bodega Kieninger Martin Kieninger, Samsara Wines and Bodegas Morosanto. There will be led tastings and a blending in pairs competition. Opening hours for trade members: 10:30-14:30 and for the general public: 17:00-21:00

10 June. Bodega Bentomiz, located on the Sierra de Málaga, near the village of Sayalonga, combines wine and music with a series of concerts during the summer which start with a piano concert by Thomas Kaurich. Time: 18:00 Price: €35 (includes the concert, a glass of wine and a tapa). Further information and bookings on +34 951 386 706

10 June. Fira del Vi Solidari was an initiative launched by seven producers in the Masroig area trying to do their bit for child cancer research programmes to continue through the charity Sant Joan de Deu. At this festival, held at Bancal d’Alegno de El Masroig (Tarragona), participants will be able to taste wines from the producers involved in the event and purchase an exclusive wine made for this fair. There will also be children’s activities, music and a tasting of wines from DO Montsant led by Sílvia Naranjo and Jordi Alcover, authors of the Guía de Vins de Catalunya (Catalunya Wine Guide). Time: 10:30-14:00 and from 17:30

13 June - 18 July. From today and for the next six weeks, wine store Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) presents The Geograohy of Champagne, a course with six sessions led by Juanma Ruiz Casado to learn everything about the world’ most valuable sparkling wine: regions, villages, producers, styles… The first session is devoted to Reims and the following wines will be a tasted: Franck Pascal Reliance Brut Nature, Huré Frères Invitation Brut, Monmarthe Brut Millésime 2008, Paul Bara Brut Réserve, Vilmart & Co. Brut Grande Réserve Primer Cru and Louis Dousset Blanc de Blancs. Time: 20:30 Price: €40 per day (Six-day price: €200).

14 June. Restaurant Casa Montaña in Valencia (Josep Benlliure, 69) hosts a tasting of Contino wines led by winemaker Jesús Madrazo. The wines are: Contino Blanco 2016 barrel sample, Contino Rosado 2016 barrel sample, Contino Garnacha 2015 barrel sample (these three wines are being clarified and are due to be bottled at the end of June) and Contino Graciano 2014. Afterwards there will be a tapas dinner paired with Contigo wines. Time: 19:30. The tasting is free but booking is required. Dinner: €35 per person. Bookings on +34 96 3672314

15 June. Wine retailer Lavinia (Ortega y Gasset, 16) in Madrid presents a tasting of cava vs champagne to discover the differences (and similarities) and the chance to taste the following wines: Pierre Moncuit, Hugues de Coulmet; Laurent-Perrier Brut, Drappier Brut Nature Sin Sulfitos, Pierre Gimonnet & fils, Paradoxe Brut 2008, Alta Alella Bruant Natural, Pere Ventura, Cupatge d´Honor, Juvé y Camps Finca La Siberia Gran Reserva 2010 and Recaredo Subtil 2007. Time: 18:30 Price: €40

15 June. Mark O’Neill, owner of wine club The Wine Place, organizes an afterwork tasting of Pinot Noirs and Rieslings from around the world with the following wines: Howard Park ‘Madfish Riesling’ 2016 Western Australia; Humberto Canales ‘Old Vines’ Riesling, Patagonia; Moulin de Gassac Pinot Noir 2016, IGP Pays d’Oc; Humberto Canale Pinot Noir, Patagonia and Yealands Estate Pinot Noir 2014, Marlborough. Time: 18:45-20:00 Price: €15 Location: Vitra in Valencia (Cirilo Amoros, 90). Further information on +34 661 717151

15 June. Restaurant Los Cabezudos in Zaragoza hosts a dinner with Laurent Perrier champagnes (Millesimé 2006, Rosé) and Marqués de Riscal wines (Finca Montico 2015, Limousin 2015, Barón de Chirel 2001 and 150 Aniversario 2010. Price: €65 Bookings on +34 976 392 732

15 June. Restaurant Los Patios de Beatas in Málaga (Beatas, 43) has invited Mariano Enrique Heredia from Vináliti and partner at 17 Filas Bodegas y Viñedos to present his wines sourced from several southern wine regions like Málaga, Antequera, Axarquía and Ronda. After the tasting, there will be a dinner paired with the wines of 17 Filas. Time: 21:00 Price: €10 (€25 with dinner) Bookings on +34 952 210350

16-18 June. The town of Barberà de la Conca (Tarragona) organizes the 8th Festa del Trepat with talks, vineyard tours, an art show, children's activities, guided winery tours, concerts, theatre and tastings. There will be over a dozen wineries at the festival including Carlania, Gatzara or Vins de Pedra.

16-18 June. In the same province, the 19th DO Tarragona Wine Fair takes place this weekend with the opportunity to taste wines from over 20 local producers such as De Muller, Castell D’Or, Cellers Unió or Vermut Miró, among others. The showroom will also include paired tastings and live music. Price: €10 (six tastings and a glass of wine).

18-19 June. The 1st Showroom of Singular and Village Wines from La Marina Alta aims to offer a space for natural, organic, singular, biodynamic and local wines, as well as producers trying to recover local grape varieties. Among the 30-odd local, national and international producers who will be at the tasting there are names like Enrique Mendoza, Celler del Roure, Celler La Muntanya, Vinos Malaparte, Bodega F.Schatz, Bodegas Sel d’Aiz, Vinos Ambiz or Loxarel. The showroom will be held at Riurau Market in the village of Jesús Pobre, near Denia (Alicante). Time: 19:00-12:00 on Sunday and 10:00-14:00 on Monday. Price: €8 (includes glass and three tastings). 

19 June. Tandem Gastronómico in Valencia presents at restaurant Fierro (Doctor Serrano, 4) a  tasting of German wines fro beginners led by wine merchant Dan Gill, who will explain the history of this variety, the main areas where it is grown and production methods. Five different styles will be tasted: Dry Ortswine, Dry Grand Cru (Grosses Gewächs), Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese. Time:19:00 Price: €35 

21 June. Óscar Soneira, who writes the blog Hemoglovinum, presents a tasting with five "singular pairings" at La Vicoca in Barcelona (Carrer d’Hostafrancs de Sió, 18). The wines are a surprise but these are the dishes you will find on the day: Patatas bravas, smoked sardine, chicken wings in brine, roastbeef and brownie. Time: 19:30 Price: €25

21 June. Vella Terra and La Festival BCN join forces today to host a tasting of natural wine and artisan sourdough bread made by local bakers. The winegrowers who will bring wines to the tasting are Francesc from Celler Frisach, Jordi "Molà" and Agustí from Celler Els Comuns, Joan Martí from Celler Camp de Dos, Albert from Celler Tuets, Joan i Emma from Celler Tal Com Raja and Bàrbara and Joan Carles from Celler La Gutina. The event will be held at La Festival in Barcelona (Verdi, 67). Time: 19:00-21:00 Price: €10 

22 June. Wine store Bodega Santa Cecilia in Madrid (Avda de Europa, 13 in Pozuelo) has organized a vertical tasting with some old vintages of Viña Ardanza. The following vintages will be available at the tasting, presented by La Rioja Alta’s technical director, Julio Sáenz: 1989, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2008. Price: €35 (€30 for members). Time: 19:00 - 21:00

22 June. Bodega Urbana in Bilbao (Gran Vía, 66) has invited singer and songwriter Alberto Alcalá from Málaga who will present his music paired with a  Fino César and a special red blended by Bodega Urbana. Time: 20:00 Price: €15 Bookings on +34 94 4416181

22 June. Wine merchant Goñi Ardoteka (Aldamar, 3) in San Sebastián has invited Nico Boise, sommelier at restaurant Elkano in Getaria to present a tasting of skin contact wines with the following brands: Cos Pes 2015 (Rías Baixas), Arbois Savagnin en Amphore 2014 (Jura), L’Orange de Vergy 2015 (Burgundy), Cuvée Marguerite 2014 (Roussillon), Ribolla Gialla 2012 (Venezia Giulia) and Skerlj Malvasía 2012 (Venezia Giulia). Price: €36 

23-25 June. Producer Aroa (part of the Vintae group), located in the Yerri Valley (Navarra), hosts the I International Land Art Exhibition in which seven artists will crate pop-up exhibitions with vine canes, mud or wood, among other materials, to create an open-air museum in the vicinity of Grocin and Zurucuain with the participation of locals from the area. There will be free tours throughout the weekend. 

23 June - 2 September. For sherry lovers, Taberna der Guerrita is a legendary place in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The man behind this sherry heaven is Armando Guerra, who prepares an awesome anual summer tasting calendar with some of the leading wine figures in Spain and beyond. The tastings kick off with the presence of Marcelo Retamal from De Martino in Chile (20:30, €40) and continues with names like Ramiro Ibáñez (extinct wines by Gaspar Florido, 24 June) or Luis Gutiérrez presenting his new book Los Nuevos Viñadores (7 July), among many others. The novelty this year is Innoble Wine Fest on June 25, a festival with wine, music and local producers like Forlong, Luis Pérez or Williams & Humbert along with others from other parts in Spain such as Laura Lorenzo, Chateau Paquita, Suertes del Marqués or Javier Arizcuren, among others. Time: 11:00 - 11:00 Price: €50

24 June. The eighth Ecovino Awards popular tasting, which aim to encourage organic wine consumption, will take place at Riojaforum Logroño (San Millán, 25). The winning wines will be available for tasting at the event. Tickets cost €10 and include a glass, five wine servings and two pintxos. Time: 19:30

26 June. Juan Luis García, sommelier at Casa Marcial in Arriondas (Asturias), brand new winner of the Juli Soler Award to the Best Sommelier at Copa Jerez, presents at Umami Gijón (Avda. Rufo Rendueles, 8) a tasting of red wines from Galicia with the following brands: Goliardo Caiño y Loureiro (Forjas del Salnés), Viñaredo Sousón (Santa Marta), A Costiña (Alan del Val), Capricho de Merenzao (Ponte da Boga), Zárate Espadeiro, Quinta da Muradella Berrande, Finca Meixeman (Guímaro), Pedral (Attis), Traste (José Luis Aristegui) and Viña de Martin Os Pasas (Luis Anxo Rodríguez). Time: 20:00 Price: €20

26 and 27 June. The Mostrador de Vila Viniteca in Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 45) and Vila Viniteca in Barcelona Agullers, 7) offer the chance to taste en primeur a selection of barrel wines from the 2016 Bordeaux vintage along with some of their winemakers. Time: 11:00 -14:00 and 17:00-20:00. Price: €30 (Free for members)

28 June.  Restaurant Entrevins in Valencia (Calle de la Paz, 7) presents a tasting of four rosé champagnes (Roger Coulon Rosélie, Laherte Rosé, Savart Bulles Derosé and Rosé de Meunier de Laherte) explaining the two techniques used to make this type of wine. Each wine will be paired with a tapa. Time: 21:00 Price: €35.

28 June. Coalla Gourmet sobre in Oviedo (Fierro, 3) presents a tasting of wines from little-known regions and often underrated by consumers. The wines, which will be paired with products from nearby regions, are Pésico from Cangas del Narcea, Viña Zorzal from DO Navarra, Dos Marías from DO Binissalem, Calvente Guindalera from VT Granada, La Zarcita from Extremadura and Lovamor  Alfredo Maestro from VT Castilla León. Time: 20:00 Price: €15 Bookings on telephone +34 984 181 800

28 June. Monvínic in Barcelona (Diputació, 249) presents an introduction to the wines of South Africa led by sommelier César Cánovas with the following brands: Graham Beck Robertson Blanc de Blancs Cap Classic Chardonnay, Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc Peerdeblokke, Mullineux Swartland Kloof Street Chenin Blanc, Jordan Stellenbosch Nine Yards Chardonnay, Bouchard Finlayson Walker Bay Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, Lammershoeck  Swartland LAM Pinotage, Kanonkop Stellenbosch Kadette Pinotage, AA Badenhorst Family Wines Swartland Red Blend, Boeckenoutskloof Franschhoeck Syrah and Thelema Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon. Time: 20:00 Price: €55

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.

29 June. El Celler del Cava in Terrassa (Barcelona) organizes a blind cava tasting in pairs competition.  Location: Casa Alegre de la Sagrera (Font Vella, 29). Registration costs €20 per pair and the winning team will take home €500. Further information on +34 93 7892988

29 June. Organized by Unión Española de Catadores, Salón de los Mejores Vinos Jóvenes de España (Spain's Best Young Wines showroom) will showcase at the hotel Courtyard by Marriott Madrid (C/ Princesa, 40) a representation of wines from the 2016 vintage which received an award at the Baco Awards, Further information at info@uec.es

30 June. Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona, in partnership with Asociación Vinícola Catalana (Catalan Wine Association) presents a day of music and wine with six wines paired with local produce and good music. Time: 19:30 Price: €19

30 June. The cycle Divendres DiVins is an activity organised by seven wine appellations from Camp de Tarragona and Terres de l’Ebre -DOQ Priorat, DO Conca de Barberà, DO Tarragona, DO Catalunya, DO Penedès, DO Montsant and DO Terra Alta-, and several public bodies whose aim is to highlight heritage sites and their relation to the DOs. This fourth edition, which will take place every Friday throughout the summer, starts with a concert by Sergi Esparza and a wine tasting at Cartuja de Scala Dei after a tour of the monument. Time: 19:30 and concert at 20:15. Bookings on +34 977 83 94 95 Price: €5.

30 June. In its tenth edition, La Noche del Vino returns to La Ciudadela in Pamplona reenacting the four themed cities of past editions: New York, Paris, Berlin and London. Participants will be served four DO Navarra wines and four pinchos inspired in these four great cities and prepared by local chef Iñaki Andradas. There will be a circus show and live music. Time: 20:30 Price: €20

30 June - 1 July.  Hundreds of Spanish indie music fans will travel to Arnedo (La Rioja) to take part in  Fárdelej Festival and see bands like Musgo, Viva Suecia, Grises or Lori Meyers, among others. As well as concerts over the weekend, the festival hosts foodie and wine activities with winery tours and tastings at producers like Bodegas Ontañón, Faustino Rivero and others. Tickets from 32 €