Wine tastings in March 2019

March is a great time to sip your way across Spain with events like Vila Viniteca’s Tasting in pairs competition, which also includes a tasting for the general public. Wine lovers looking for technical events have a couple of interesting ones this month: the 14th Technical Encounter about soils and vineyard management and the Viticulture Congress in Granja Cando hosted by Ricardo Pérez Palacios in Bierzo. Additionally, there are several tastings to featuring women and their wines to mark the celebration of Women’s Day on March 8th. 

1-2 March. Over a dozen producers will present their new vintages during Haro's Wine Carnival which this year is inspired in the Age of Enlightenment and is held at the cloister of Hotel Los Agustinos (San Agustín, 2) in the Rioja town. Participant producers include Cooperativa Virgen de la Vega, Bilbaínas, Carlos Serres, La Rioja Alta, Martínez Lacuesta, Muga, Ramón Bilbao, Gómez Cruzado, Roda, CVNE, Santalba, Marqués de Carrión, Marqués de la Concordia and Maset. Time: 20:00 Price: €30

7 March. Restaurant Vivanco in Briones (La Rioja) presents Stars Among Vineyards, in which three chefs will reinterpret some of their most famous dishes by adding wine to their menus. Andrea Tumbarello (Don Giovanni, Madrid) opens the series with his menu Truffle & Wine Aromas. Time: 14:30 Price: €68 Further information on +34 941 32 23 40

7 March. Fintan Kerr, aka Wine Cuentista, presents The New South Africa, a tasting that will look at some of the leading producers in the country and six of their wines: Newton Johnson Albarino 2016, Blankbottle 'Offspring' 2015, Badenhorst Family White Blend 2015, Savage "Walk the Line" 2015, Secateurs Red Blend 2012 y Lammershoek Syrah 2010. The tasting (in English) will take place at Carrer San Pere Mes Baix 92, Barcelona. Time: 19:00 - 21:30 Price: €30 Reservations via email: fintankerr@winecuentista.com (If you can’t make it to this one, Fintan will also be doing an International Blind Tasting on the 21st and The Wines of Alsace on the 28th)

7 March. Another interesting event on the eve of Women’s Day is Women in Wine (Mujeres del Vino), a special tasting hosted by Meritxell Falgueras (El Celler de Gelida) with the presence of a dozen women and their wines: Anne Cannan (Clos Figueras), Merche Dalmau (Clos Galena), Marta Rovira (Mas d’en Gil) Almudena Alberca MW (Grupo Palacios), Mireia Torres (Jean Leon), Anaïs Manobens (María Rigol Ordi) and Alejandra Sanz (Menade), among others. Where: Calle Vallespir, 65, Barcelona. Time: 19:00-21:00 Price: €8

8 March. To mark Women’s Day, wine store Los Patios de Beatas in Málaga (Beatas, 43) hosts a dinner with poetry, music and wines by Victoria Ordóñez from the eponymous winery, Ana Castro (Bodega La Melonera), María Elena Rodríguez (Bodega Vetas) and Rosalía Landón (Altolandón). Price: €20 Bookings on +34 952 210350

9 March. One of our most active contributors, Anna Harris-Noble, who recently wrote a timely piece called Lost in translation: a glossary of wine terms in English and Spanish, presents in Lavinia in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) an Introduction to Wine Tasting in English so that participants develop their senses gradually and progress in their tasting skills in English. Time: 19:00 Price: €45

9 March. Wine store and bar Matos in Barcelona (Muntaner, 412) hosts a tasting led by Óscar Soneira of Sherries paired with a few bites to eat. Time: 19:00 Price: €29. Bookings on +34 93 4141522

11 March. The association of producers Bodegas Familiares de Rioja presents their 2018 wines, a challenging vintage in Rioja with high humidity and mildew problems, with a tribute to the women who work in the wine trade, be it in the vineyard, the winery or in management positions. The event takes place in the main lobby of the Palacio de Congresos Riojafórum in Logroño and will feature 26 wineries from throughout DO Rioja. Price: €10. Time: 19:00 - 21:00

11 March. The Experiencia Verema celebrates their fourth edition in Palma de Mallorca (Hotel Melia Victoria (Avinguda de Joan Miró, 21) where some 30 wineries and distributors will present their wines. Additionally, two tastings are scheduled: Sabor a Málaga and Italian wines. Price: €10 Time: 11:00 - 21:00

12 March. Wine bar and restaurant La Tavina in Logroño (Laurel, 2) has invited South African producer Bryan Mac Robert to present five of the wines he makes in Rioja under the brand Laventura. The tasting will be followed by a few bites to eat. Time: 20:30 Bookings on +34 941 10 23 00

13 March. Under the name “Camino de perfección: Desde la Viña hasta la Sacristía”, (“On the way to perfection: From the vineyard to the old vintages cellar”) wine bar La Caníbal in Madrid (Argumosa, 28) presents a tasting of very old soleras from González Byass conducted by Antonio Flores. These are the wines on the tasting: Fino de Añada 2010, 2011, Oloroso Alfonso 1/6, XC Palo Cortado “De Ida y Vuelta” and Pío X de 1903. Time: 18:30 Price: €40 Bookings on +34 915 39 60 57

13 March. Producer Esteban Celemín debuts in the market after years of efforts and dedication working his Albillo Real and Tempranillo vineyards located in Castronuño or Valbuena de Duero. Today Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) has invited him to present the following wines: Señora Vale Albillo Real 2017, los parcelarios Avutardas Albillo Real 2017 y A Horquilla Albillo Real 2017, Últimas Huellas Tempranillo 2017,  Melquíades Tinta de Toro 2017 and Monamvasia del Duero Orange Malvasía 2017. Time: 20:30 Price: €30. Attendees will receive a €10 voucher to buy the wines tasted. 

14 March. Jimena Cristo, founder of the website Colorful Wines, presents at TomeVinos wine store in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 61) a comparative tasting of six national and international wines made from Riesling, Pinot Noir and Malbec. The wines are: Loosen Bros Riesling Dry 2017 (Mosel, Germany), Bodegas Torres Waltraud Riesling 2016 (DO Penedès, Spain), Villa Wolf Pinot Noir 2016 (Pfalz, Germany), Bodegas Enrique Mendoza Pinot Noir 2016 (DO Alicante, Spain), Bodega Dante Robino Novecento Malbec 2016 (Mendoza, Argentina) and Bodegas Hacienda Albae Malbec 2015 (DO La Mancha, Spain). Time: 20:00 Price: €20 Bookings on tours@colorfulwines.com

14 March. Restaurant Los Cabezudos in Zaragoza (Antonio Agustín 12-14) has invited David Barro, sommelier at Coalla merchants, to conduct a paired dinner with dishes and wines from Galicia. The wines are: Viña de Martín Os Pasas 2016 (Luis Anxo Rodríguez), Zárate EL Palomar 2017 (Eulogio Pomares), As Sortes 2017 (Rafael Palacios), Quinta da Muradella Gorvia 2013 (José Luis Mateo), Castiñeiro Espadeiro 2017 (Eulogio Pomares) and Calama 2014 (Dominio do Bibei). Time: 21:00 Price: €65 Bookings on +34 652954923

14-24 March. For ten days the Passeig de Gracia and the surrounding streets of Barcelona will celebrate the Passeig de Gourmets. Twenty restaurants are participating in the festival which features activities like a Small Plates Route (€7), special tasting menus (€50), Cooking with Four Hands where two chefs team up for one night to prepare a special menu (from €110 plus pairings from €30) and free  gourmet experiences with some of Barcelona’s most renowned chefs. All of the activities are accompanied by wines from Familia Torres and cava Juve y Camps. 

15 March. If you happen to be in Lleida (Catalonia), wine store Vinicia (Humbert Torres, 19) hosts an “exclusive tasting with surprise wines”. No more details have been provided but it sounds fun. Time: 21:00 Price: €60

18 March. The Monastrell grape variety, which in Spain is mostly found in Alicante, Valencia and Murcia, will take centre stage at today’s tasting at Vinacoteca in Barcelona (València, 595) with the following wines: El Sequé 2016, Enrique Mendoza Estrecho Monastrell 2016, Matador Ai WeiWei 2014, Altos de las Gateras Monastrell 2013, Detrás de la casa Monastrell 2014, Ramón Castaño 2007 Colección Vila Viniteca 75 aniversario, Atlan & Artisan Epistem nº5 2012, Celler del Roure Maduresa 2016, Casa Castillo Pie Franco 2016, El Nido 2016 and Olivares Dulce Monastrell 2016. Time: 20:30 - 22:30. Price: €60 Members: €45 

18 March. Champagne merchants A la Volé present in Zaragoza (Ford  Automóviles Sanchez, Carretera de Logroño, 32), a tasting of six grower champagnes. Entrance is free but booking is required by writing to this email address: pedrolopez@dos-setenta.com Time: 11:00 - 13:00                                The next day, their documentary Revolution Champenoise, la Viña Manda will be screened in the official section of the Málaga Cinema Festival (Cine Albéniz, 11:30).

20 March. The Canary Islands are a source of fascination for many wine lovers but the island of El Hierro (12 producers officially members of the appellation and less than 200,000 litres in total) is a remote place whose wines are hard to come by. The tasting club Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) has managed to get hold of nine wines from El Hierro from producers such as Alejandro Carlos Deniz, Explotaciones Elysar, Berta Hernandez Montero, S.Coop. Del Campo Frontera and Uwe Urbach who will be presented by Bartolomé Sánchez. Time: 19:00 Price: €20

21 March. The Fundación para la Cultura del Vino (Foundation for Wine Culture) presents in Madrid (Hotel Courtyard Marriott Princesa) the 14th Technical Meeting on soils and vineyard management, with the intervention of experts such as Jesús Yuste (Itacyl), Javier Ibáñez (ICW) or Ana Sagües (Evena), winemakers such as Jorge Muga and Luis Hurtado de Amézaga and sommelier Guillermo Cruz. Time: 08:45 - 19:00 Price: €225 (Discounts for members and students) More information on +34 91 799  29 80

21 March. Wine store and restaurant Pura Cepa in Murcia (San José, 3) hosts a  tasting followed by dinner with Viña Sastre and Do Ferreiro (Bodegas Gerardo Mendez) in which the producers from Ribera del Duero and Rías Baixas will present their wines. Price: €45

22 March. The tasting of wines made by women held in wine store Vinosfera in Vitoria (Rafael Alberti, 24) today pays tribute to women in wine with a tasting of five wines bearing the seal of five women who make different styles and in different areas. The wines will be paired with Ibérico ham, Idiazabal cheese and a pleasant talk. Price: € 22 To book a place call +34 945 247 778 or send an email to info@vinosfera.es

22 March. Wine store El Buen Gusto Vinos in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) has invited Rioja winegrower Benjamín Romeo to present his range of single-vineyard, limited production wines (barely 3,000 bottles). The wines in the tasting are: Colección Nº 1: La Viña de Andrés Romeo 2015 (La Liende 1978), Colección Nº 2: Carmen Hilera 2012 (La Canoca 1958), Colección Nº 3: El Chozo del Bombón 2015 (El Bombón 1965), Colección Nº 4: Garnacha La Dehesa 2015 (La Dehesa 1900) and Colección Nº 5: Blanco 2017 (El Sauco 1956). Time: 20:00 Price: €25 Book your place on telephone number +34 983 377 199

23-24 March. Kirios de Adrada in the DO Ribera del Duero hosts an organic agriculture seminar focused on vineyard and wine. Led by Jesús Lázaro de Diego, grape grower and producer at this winery in Adrada de Haza (Burgos), the course is meant to add information about organic grape growing in a practical, hands-on way. It is aimed at wine professionals and anyone wishing to expand their knowledge on this field. The course includes a vertical tasting of Kirios de Adrada organic wines. Price: €120 (25% discount for students and persons below 25 years of age)

24 March. Tickets to take part in Vila Viniteca's annual Tasting in Pairs Competition were sold out in less than 10 minutes this year, but there is a chance to be at the tasting to see which couple takes the €30,000 prize. Between the classifying stage and the final, the public can taste the wines served by over 40 producers at the Casino in Madrid (Alcalá, 15) as well as craft cheese at lunchtime. Time: 11:00 - 18:30 Price: €15

26 March. Jonathan, owner of Cork wine bar in Bilbao (Licenciado Poza, 45), has invited José Ferrer, Sherry Wines ambassador, to present the wines of the region and their important role in food pairing with a few pintxos and bites prepared by the staff at Cork. Time: 20:00 Price: €25

26 March. This month's guest at Monvínic in Barcelona (Diputació, 249) is Ricard Rofes, technical director at Scala Dei, who will present some of his single vineyard wines next to a selection of wines from some of the world's most renowned areas (Burgundy, Châteauneuf-du-Pape....). These are the wines on the tasting: Rafael Palacios Valdeorras As Sortes 2013, Domaine Jacques Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 2011, Jean Trapet Gevrey-Chambertin Ostrea 2011, Domaine Jamet Côte Rôtie 2016, Château Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008, Cantina Cavallotto Barolo Bricco Boschis 2010, Scala Dei Priorat Massipa 2016, Scala Dei Priorat Cartoixa 2016, Scala Dei Priorat Masdeu 2013 and Scala Dei Priorat Sant Antoni 2014 Time: 20:00 Price: €72 

26 March. Xabier Sanz, one of the brothers behind family producer Viña Zorzal in Navarra, will today be at Umami Gijón (Av. Rufo Rendueles, 8) presenting their terroir-driven wines. The wines on the tasting are: Viña Zorzal Garnacha 2017, Reverte Garnacha 2017, Corral de Los Altos 2016, Malayeto 2016, Señora de Las Alturas 2016 and  Lecciones de Vuelo 2016 Time: 20:00 Price: €18

28 March. Wine store La Mercería in Boadilla del Monte near Madrid (Avenida Siglo XXI, 4) has invited Raúl Pérez to present some of the wines he makes in Bierzo, Galicia or Cebreros such as El Jorco and Las Enebradas Vino de Familia. As Raúl is a free spirit, the rest of the wines will be a surprise. Time: 20:00 Price: €25. Further information on +34 647 939 159

28 March. Restaurant EntreVins (Paz, 7) in Valencia presents a tasting of Ribera del Duero wines paired with tapas. The wines are: Garmón 2015 (Familia García), Pícaro del Águila 2016 (Jorge Monzón), Corimbo 2014 (Roda) and Vera Vides 2016 (Magna Vides). Price: €35 Bookings on +34 963 333 523

29 March. The Santa Caterina market in Barcelona presents a tasting of six wines from Priorat, Montsant and Riu Siurana paired with six tapas. Time: 19:30 - 21:30 Price: €30

29-30 March. Sulphur and its uses in the wine growing trade will be the issue of the 3rd Viticulture Congress Granja Cando in Bierzo. Speakers include Juancho Asenjo, Dominique Roujou de Boubée, Encarna Cuevas, Antonio Palacios and a few French wine growers and a tasting-debate with Benoit Valèe, Álvaro Palacios, Marie Louise Banyols, Juancho Asenjo, Raúl Pérez, Andres Conde and others. The event, which will finish with an informal dinner for dinners and participants, will take place at Descendientes de J Palacios. Price: €190 Send an email to escuela@granjacando.com to buy your ticket.

30 March. More than 40 wineries are participating in Durango Ardo Saltsan wine fair in Durango (Vizcaya). The fair features demonstrations and wine tastings along with tastings of gourmet products such as Iberian ham, olive oil, smoked salmon, smoked tuna, Iberian tomatoes, cheese, anchovies and coffee. Some of the wineries present include Solabal, Del Monge Garbati (Viña Ane), Ximénez Spinola, Vila Viniteca, Aleph Winery and Recaredo, among others. The fair takes place in the Landako Gunea events center. Price: €17 which includes a wine glass. Time: 11:00 - 20:00

30 March. The Centro Temático del Vino Villa-Lucía Wine Centre in Laguardia (Álava) presents Spring Wine Fest, the first edition of a festival to taste the winning wines of this year's edition of DOCa Rioja Wine Competition and slow food, local pintxos. There will also be live music. Opening hours: 12:30 -16:30 and 20:00 - 01:30 Price: €5 Further information on +34 945 600 032