Wine tastings in March 2022

March is a good month to enjoy again a handful of events —regular fixtures in the pre-pandemic calendar— such as the Vila Viniteca Blind Tasting in Pairs and La Música del Vi in Barcelona, which are open to the general public, or the Peñín and Verema Tasting Shows. In addition, the number of in-person events in different parts of the country is also on the rise. 

From March 2. The Rioja Alavesa Wine & Food Campus hosts over 35 courses across the region to broaden the knowledge of professionals or people who want to enter the world of wine. Workshops range from how to create wine tourism experiences, English for wineries (taught by yours truly) or how social media are changing wine drinking habits with wine communicator Colectivo Decantado. Timetables and prices vary according to the activity.

2, 9 and 16 March. The Vinaliti tasting school in Malaga presents a course on champagne and other bubbly in three different sessions. Time: 20:30 Price: €145 (€125 for members). Book your seat at info@vinaliti.es

3-4 March. Espacio Sabores in Logroño (C/ Marqués de San Nicolás, 88) presents a series of tastings called Mujer (Woman) with the presence of Ana Carazo (La Loba), Ana Martín (Astobiza), Iria Otero and Maite Sánchez (Arrayán) on the 3rd, and Bárbara Palacios (Barbarot), Berta Valgañón (Pretium), Rosana Lisa (Lalomba) and Elena Corzana on the 4th. Time: 20:30 Price: €24 

4, 7, 8, 14, 17, 19 and 24 March. Lavinia wine bar in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) hosts several in-person activities this month: natural, organic and biodynamic wines (4th, €45); online meeting with producers such as Andreas Kubach MW (Bideona), Fátima Ceballos and Manuel Jiménez del Pino (Los Insensatos de la Antehojuela), Santiago Carrillo (La Inglesa), Vicente Inat (Viñedos Verticales) and Laura Ramos (Casa Corredor) (7th and 14th, €65 and includes delivery of six bottles); women and wine (8th, €45) Bordeaux vs Burgundy (17th, 65 €); parent and child tasting (19th, €55 for two people) and tapas and blind tasting with Juan Manuel Bellver, director of Lavinia. All activities start at 19:00 except the tasting with Bellver, which will start at 20:00.

4 and 25 March. The Asociación de Amigos de la Vid y el Vino in the Alcobendas district of Madrid (c/ Francisco Largo Caballero, Agrupación PSOE) presents a couple of interesting activities this month. In the first one, the following wines from Jean Foillard, one of the most respected producers in Beaujolais, will be tasted: Beaujolais Nouveau 2021, Morgon Classique 2020, Cuvée Elles 2018 Côte du Py 2018, Eponym 2019, Corcelette 2019, Fleurie 2019 and Cuvée Athanor 2015. Time: 19:15 Price: €25 On the 25th it will be Jura vin jaune explained by Luis Gutiérrez with an impressive list of wines: Tissot La Mailloche 2011, Tissot Château-Chalon 2011, Montbourgeau L'Etoile 2011, Ganevat Côtes du Jura 2006, Berthet-Bondet Château-Chalon 1992 and Macle Château-Chalon 1968. Time: 19:00 Price: €80 More information and bookings at amigosdelavidluis@gmail.com

7 March. The Association of Sommeliers in Navarra has invited Rafael Poveda, Fondillón expert and winemaker at MGWines winery, who will present a wine tasting with the following wines: Fondillón 1996, Fondillón 50 years, Fondillón antigua 1945 and Protofondillon 2021. Where: Hotel Don Carlos, Huarte near Pamplona. Time: 19:00 Price: €50 (€30 for members). Anyone interested should book before March 3th via  email to  actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com

8 March. Wine bar La Caníbal in Madrid (Argumosa, 28) presents a tasting of champagne RH Coutier and of the wines of Domaine Bersan from Burgundy. Time: 18:00 Price: €15

8, 10, 15, 17, 22 and 29 March. The Unión Española de Sumilleres in Madrid (c/Lope de Vega, 27) presents this month the following tastings: a selection of Viñedos Singulares wines from Rioja (8th, €35), the Atlantic originality of Galician reds (10th, €35), Nebbiolo d'Asti e Monferrato (15th, €35), winemaker Nacho Álvarez and his wines from Bierzo and Galicia (17th, €35), Canary Islands wines made from the Vijariego Blanco variety (22nd, €40), Mauro vertical tasting and sparkling wines from Bairrada (29th, €40). Tastings start at 19:00 

9, 10, 12, 14 and 24 March. Sommelier Pilar Cruces, creator of Lust for Wine, hosts different activities this month. The first is her "Podcast with a lot of art" at Centro de Arte in Burgos alongside winemaker Tao Platón (18:30, free with prior registration at cab@cajadeburgos.com indicating name and surname). On the 10th at the Sala Lust for Wine in Burgos (Plaza Alonso Martínez, 7A Office 57) there will be a presentation and tasting of Ribera vs Rioja (20:30, €45), on the 12th there will be a tasting of wines and vinyls at La Cuca (Calle La Puebla, 17 Burgos, 13:30, €25) while Portugal will be the focus of the tastings on March 14th and 19th. The tasting on the 14th will be online for Lust for Wine Club members whereas on the 24th it will take place at Sala Lust for Wine (20:30, €45).

10 and 17 March. Wine educator Fintan Kerr is back with the first couple of Maestrazgo Wine Club tastings since the pandemic first began. The first, on the 10th, will be an exploration of the classic wines of France; from Champagne all the way down to the Southern Rhone. For the 17th, he has planned a red-wine-only tasting, exploring the 2016 vintage with wines from France, Italy and Spain. Tastings takes place in Aguita Vins in Barcelona. Time: 19:00 Price of each tasting: €30 

11, 18 and 25 March. La Mercería in Boadilla del Monte, Madrid (Av. Siglo XXI, 4) presents three tastings this month to delve into the soils, climates, history and producers of Rioja. The first, on the 11th, will focus on Rioja Alavesa with wines such as Remelluri Reserva, Clos Ibai Tinto, Artadi Valdeginés, Bhilar Phinca Abejera and Bideona Leza. The second is about Rioja Oriental and the wines are Herencia Remondo Propiedad, Bicicleta Voladora crianza, Costumbres Erosivo, D Mateos Blanco Selección and Arizcuren Solo Mazuelo. Finally, on 25 March, Carlos Sánchez will talk about single-vineyard wines versus blended wines and the following wines will be tasted: Buradón tinto, Artuke La Condenada, Abel Mendoza 5V, José Gil El Bardallo and Miguel Merino La Loma. Time: 20:00 Price: €25  each session. More information on telephone +34 914 49 50 06

12 and 26 March. The DO Jumilla hosts a series of wine tastings on a boat powered by sustainable energy on the Segura River. They take place during the first half of the year and are hosted by the region's winemakers. This month's tastings will feature Bodegas Delampa (12th) and El Lagar de Las Puntillas on the 26th. Tickets will be on sale the week of each of the tastings at a symbolic price and can be purchased on the link above.

13 March. Even if you haven't managed to secure a place at the Vila Viniteca blind tasting in pairs competition in Barcelona, you can still be present at the most awaited competition of the year for wine lovers, where you can also taste wines from the exhibiting wineries and enjoy a buffet of artisan cheeses. Time: 11:00 - 18:30 Price: €30  A day later, on March 14, wine lovers and professionals are invited to Música del Vi, an event with national and international producers which is a fantastic opportunity to taste great wines. Hora: 10:00 - 20:00 Precio: €275

13-15 March. The Fòrum Gastronòmic de Barcelona has a couple of sessions dedicated to wine such as the presentation of Clàssic Penedès, the launch of the Asociación de Profesionales de Sala and a tasting of amontillados from Jerez with Pepe Ferrer. Tickets from €15.

14 March. Bodegas Familiares de Rioja presents a tasting of wines from the 2021 vintage in Logroño with the presence of 38 producers in the association. The event will take place in the foyer of the Palacio de Congresos Riojafórum in Logroño. Price: €10 (All proceeds will be donated to ACNUR and to the refugees from Ukraine. Time: 19:00 - 21:00

15 March. The III Salón Peñín Selección de Málaga will allow visitors to discover and taste a selection of some of the best wines in Spain according to the Peñín Guide. The event will take place at the NH Málaga hotel. Time: 12:00 - 20:00

From 15 March. The historic Cvne winery in Haro hosts an exhibition of the work of Pablo Palazuelo, a multidisciplinary artist from Madrid and master of 20th century geometric abstraction. The exhibition includes a total of 12 large sculptures and 20 paintings that will be displayed both inside and outside the bodega. Price: €8 (€18 with a tour of the winery) Book your ticket at visitas@cvne.com

16, 18 and 24 March. Celler El Tros in Barcelona (Mallorca, 303) presents several on site activities this month. On the 16th there is a tasting in English of Swiss wines led by Andrew (19:30, €25 or €45 with dinner); on the 18th the wines of Alta Alella will be paired with the food prepared by restaurant Allium from Mataró (21:00, €48) and on the 24th there will be five types of cheese from central Catalonia paired with wines from Pla de Bages (19:30, €25 or €40 with dinner).

17 March. Grape Bebop organises in association with the Borja Regulatory Board a session on Viticulture and Organic Wines with speakers such as Dominique Roujou de Boubée, Jaume Gramona and Jorge Orte in a spectacular setting: the DO's Wine Museum in the Monastery of Veruela (Zaragoza). At the end of the session there will be a tasting of five organic wines selected by Grape Bebop, followed by lunch at El Molino de Berola Restaurant. Time: 09:00-14:00 Price: €20 Registration at: museodelvino@docampodeborja.com

17, 23 and 30 March. Three activities stand out out among this month's programme at Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211): a dinner paired with game and wines from different parts of the world (17th, €55); a tasting of wines from Vigna Rionda, one of Barolo's grand crus (23rd, €95) and Garnacha vs Mencía (30th, €40). Time: 20:30 Price: Reservations on +34 917 451 927

21 March. Restaurant Portomarín in Madrid (c/Valencia, 4) hosts a fair with Vignerons from the Rhône with wines by producers such as Cuilleron, Graillot, La Janasse or Combier, among others. Time: 18:00-21:00 Price: 10 €

21 and 24-25 March. The Verema Experience hosts two events this month. The first is in Mallorca and will take place at the Victoria Gran Meliá Hotel (Hours: 12:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 21:00. Tickets from €20) while the two-day event in Valencia will take place at the Hotel Balneario Las Arenas and will be attended by around 30 producers guided (Hours: 12:00 to 21:00. Tickets from €20)

20-21 March. The group of organic and natural winegrowers Biba Ardoak from the Basque Country and Navarra hosts the Biba Azoka fair in San Sebastián  (Taba gastronomic space in Tabakalera) with the opportunity to taste almost 100 wines and dine on local products with the winegrowers (€35). Opening hours: 11:00-19:00 Price: €10 (includes glass).  

24 March. Txakoli producer Itsasmendi hosts at its winery in Gernika (Barrio Arane, 66) a tasting of Paradisuak, their collection of single-vineyard wines. Time: 19:00

28-30 March. The second edition of Madrid Fusion The Wine Edition will feature a symposium area at Ifema's main auditorium as well as a tasting area with the presence of some of the country's most renowned sommeliers and producers such as Willy Pérez, Peter Sisseck, Ramiro Ibáñez and Armando Guerra, who will talk about Jerez, Fernando Mora MW, Ricard Rofes, Telmo Rodríguez and Roberto Santana and Alfonso Torres who will talk about recovering mountains, Berta Valgañón, Miguel Eguíluz and Carlos Mazo about the silent revolution of Rioja, or women such as Almudena Alberca MW, María José López de Heredia, Sara Pérez or Pilar Salillas, who will talk about innovation and conservation. One of the main tastings will be conducted by our editor Amaya Cervera, who will pair dishes from the Japanese restaurant Kabuki with DO Cava organic wines. It will take place on the 30th at 14:30 in the open room of the convention. Tickets for the tastings can be purchased on this link

29 March. Artean Wines training centre in Bilbao presents a tasting conducted by Pilar García-Granero entitled "the wines that are revolutionising Navarra" with a tasting of six different cuvées. Where: Espacio Pangea - Plz. Indautxu. Time: 18:30 - 20:30 Price: €70 (€60 members)