Wine tastings in May 2018

Priorat takes on the limelight on the first weekend of May with a multitude of interesting events to promote wine culture. Worthy of note are Falset's Fira del Vi and Tast amb Llops, two events which are becoming popular among international wine lovers. The usual stores and restaurants, those that organize wine tastings month after month, are also featureds. Don’t forget to come back to this page for updates throughout the month.

1 - 4 May. As a preview of Falset’s Wine Fair, restaurant El Celler de L’Aspic (Miquel Barceló 31) in Falset (Tarragona) presents a bunch of tastings and dinners in the presence of producers such as Joan Asens (1 May) and Oriol Castells from Álvaro Palacios (4 May), Clos Figueras, Mas d’en Gil, Mas Doix and Celler Vall Llach (6 May). Time: 12:30 and 20:30. Information and bookings on +34 977 831 246

3 May. Wine store Vinicia in Lleida (Humbert Torres, 19) presents a tasting of Herencia Altés wines from DO Terra Alta led by sommelier David Seijas. Time: 21:00 Price: €20   (Members €15) Further information and bookings on +34 973 247 554

3-4 May. The first National Encounter of Historic Bodega Districts, organized by Bodegas Lecea alongside Aula Vivanco of La Rioja University, will be held in San Asensio (La Rioja). The goal is to delve into, revitalize and promote these wine districts with great social and economic importance in past times and with great potential to develop wine tourism activities around them. Luis Vicente Elías, a well-known local researcher, architect Marta Palacios and wine producer Luis Alberto Lecea will be among the speakers. Where: Salón de la Juventud de San Asensio (José Iturmendi, 11). Time: 09:00-18:30 and 09:30 a 14:00 (Fri) Free entrance with prior inscription via telephone +34 941 299242

4-6 May. Villages in Priorat have organized a wealth of wine activities this weekend. The first event takes place at the old bodega Cal Porrera (17:00/€15) and is called Organic Soirée, a tasting of organic, natural and biodynamic wines from Priorat and the south of Catalonia. Later on, at 19:00, a tasting of white wines from 40 producers based on DOQ Priorat and DO Montsant will be held at Falset’s Castle, followed by a festival of Cariñena wines from Porrera and the Nit de les Garnatxes, at Celler de Capçanes. The main events of the weekend are Tast amp Llops (5 May) at Plaza de Dalt in Gratallops with 13 local bodegas such as Álvaro Palacios, Clos Figueras, Fredi Torres, Clos Mogador, Clos i Terrasses or Sara i René Viticultors and guest producers like Borja Pérez (Tenerife), Viña Zorzal (Navarra) or Colet (Penedès), among others and Fira del Vi de Falset, with guided tastings, concerts, dinners with producers, musical aperitifs, the super-hip food trucks and even a kids area.

4-27 May. Cava producers celebrate the arrival of spring opening the doors of 11 cellars. For over 20 days, they will host a range of wine tourism activities for people of all ages. Agustí Torelló Mata, Codorníu, Freixenet, Giró Ribot, Juvé & Camps, Llopart, Segura Viudas, Sumarroca, Torelló, Vilarnau and Vins el Cep organize a spring festival with promenades along the vineyards, tours with electrical bikes or helicopter, tastings, breakfasts and children’s activities.

5 May. Rocío Ruiz, owner of sherry producer Bodegas Urium, and César Saldaña, director of the Sherry Control Board, present an introductory session to discover the wines made  by Urium in Jerez: Fino en Rama, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, PX VORS and Medium Dry. Where: Consejo Regulador de Jerez (Avda Alvaro Domecq, 2), Time: 12:00 Price: €12 Inscriptions on +34 956 332050

5 May.  Los Patios de Beatas in Málaga (Beatas, 43) hosts a tasting of wines made by some acclaimed producers in Rioja such as Viña Tondonia, Ygay, Imperial, Cvne, Félix Azpilicueta and Sierra Cantabria. The tasting will be followed by a lunch paired with these wines. Time: 13:15. Price: €25 tasting and €25 menu). Bookings on +34 952 210350

7 May. Son de Arrieiro (Ribeiro), El Mozo Wines (Rioja), Kirios de Adrada (Ribera del Duero), Pigar (Requena), Finca Parera (Penedès) or Las Bacantes are just half a dozen of the 30 producers from around the country who will pour their wines on the 1st Indie Spanish Wine Fair in Alicante, an event organized by Ignacio Sanz Mestre and Agustín Piqueres to raise the profile of winegrowers and country life. As well as wine, there will be local producers exhibiting their cheese, oysters and other foods. Where: Hall Edificio Séneca (c/ Portugal 17). Time: 12:00-20:30  Price: €12 

7 May.  Canadian sommelier François Chartier, author of the book Taste Buds and Molecules, will be in Barcelona today presenting a seminar about the theory of molecular pairings, a field in which Chartier is an expert. Where: NH Calderón (Rambla de Catalunya, 26) Time: 10:00-18:00 Price: 254.10 €

7 y 21 May. The Verema Experience arrives at Girona (Hotel Palau de Bellavista) for the first time on May 7th with over 50 producers and three tastings (Vardon Kennet, DO Rueda and Pernod Ricard). On May 21, the Experience arrives at Hotel Puente Romano in Marbella here over 50 Spanish producers and distributors will present their wines. Time: 12:00-21:00 Price: €5 (€10 at the gate).

8 May. Wine bar and store Bodega Urbana in Bilbao (Gran Vía, 66) presents a tasting of Old World white wines with the following cuvées: Scaia Garganega 2015 Tenuta Sant'Antonio (Veneto), Loureiro 2015 Quinta do Ameal (Vinho Verde), Riesling Trocken 2015 Braunewell (Rheinhessen), Filipa Pato Blanco 2015 (Beira-Bairrada), Château Crabitey Blanc 2015 (Bordeaux-Graves) and Domaine de Mauperthuis 2014 (Chablis). The tasting will be led by blogger Irene Guede, La Chica de la Garnacha. Time: 19:30 Price: €30 Bookings on 94 4416181

10 May. As part of her Winetime tastings, WSET trainer Jeni Wilson from Vinclass hosts a tasting of wines from Southern Rhône. The event will be held at La Pícara in Aranda de Duero (Santa María, 2). Time: 20:30 Price: €15 Bookings on +34 947 559616

10 May. Sherry wines take centre stage today at Vila Viniteca (Agullers, 7) in Barcelona in a tasting presented by sommelier Daniel Ibáñez. Some top Sherry wines will be tasted: Sacristía AB Manzanilla Saca 50 Aniversario (Magnum), Williams & Humbert Fino Tiento 2007, Tradición Amontillado Viejísimo, González Byass Palo Cortado Añada 1987, La Bota de Oloroso Nº78, Lustau Tintilla de Rota Single Cask and Valdespino Pedro Ximénez Niños VORS. Time: 20:00 Price: €89

10 May. As part of their “dinner with wine producers” series, Lavinia in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) has invited architect and wine producer Rafael Moneo to present the wines he makes at La Mejorada, his winery in Olmedo (Valladolid). Time: 21:00  Price: €65

12-20 May. The Binissalem appellation hosts Wine Days Mallorca across several towns and the presence of the wineries of the region. There will be tastings, food, winery tours, art exhibitions, markets and concerts. Additionally on May 12, a Wine Days Party will be held at the Cloister of Sant Francesc where participants will be able to taste wines from the area paired with tapas prepared by local chefs. Time: 18:30-22:00 Price: €5 and €3 € each tapa.

16 and 17 May. Wine store Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) hosts a two-day course about Madeira wines led by Juancho Asenjo. As well as knowing their history, territory and winemaking practices, the following wines will be tasted: Sercial Barbeito 1978, Sercial D´Oliveira 1977, Verdelho 20 años Henriques & Henriques, Verdelho D’Oliveira 1981, Terrantez 20 años Henriques & Henriques, Terrantez D’Oliveira 1971, Tinta Negra Medium Dry D’Oliveira 1995, Medium Rich Harvest Henriques & Henriques 1998, Boal Reserva 10 Años Barbeito, Boal D’Oliveira 2001, Malvasía Barbeito 2005 and Malvasía D’Oliveira 2002. Time: 20:30 Price: €50 each day.

17 May. Wine education centre Artean in Bilbao has organized a blind tasting in restaurant Lurrina (Barrenkale, 16) in the Basque city. Five wines will be presented blind and the theme of the tasting is open. Participants will be served a few bite while they taste the wines. Further information and bookings on +34 644 339 489 Time: 19:00 Price: €20

17 May. El Cascorro Bistrot in Madrid (Plaza del Cascorro, 21) presents a tasting of natural wines from Ronda, Cádiz, Córdoba and Granada paired with gourmet specialities from southern Spain. Time: 21:00 Price: €25 Bookings on +34 910 39 09 52.

18 May. The Mostrador de Vila Viniteca in Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 45) presents a tasting of jewels and rarities from Portugal that will take participants beyond Port and Madeira with little-known but very interesting wines: Buçaco Branco 2003 (Dão-Bairrada), Matador Roni Horn 2008 (Dão), Óssio 2014 (Alentejo), Susana Esteban & Eulogio Pomares Sidecar Branco 2016 (Alentejo), Ultreia Douro 2011 (Douro), Viuva Gomes Colares 1967 (Collares) and Barbeito Frasqueira Sercial 1992 (Madeira). Time: 20:00 Price: €55

18 May. Jerôme Bougnaud will today be at El Buen Gusto Vinos in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) presenting a mini-vertical tasting of his wine Galia (2011, 2014 and 2015), a blend of old vines Garnacha and Tempranillo from Castilla y León, as well as his new single-vineyard Clos Santuy and El Regajal 2015, a blend from Aranjuez. Bougnaud, a native of Cognac, will also present two samples of Cognac from the 2017 and 1969 vintages. At the end of the tasting there will be some food served. Time: 20:00 Price: €20 Further information on +34 983 377 199 

18 and 25 May. In May, all the tastings at Vinoteca La Mercería in Boadilla del Monte (Avenida Siglo XXI, 4) will feature wines made by women. The series, which started on May 4th, continues on May 18th with the wines of Paola Medina (Oloroso de Añada Williams & Humbert), Esmeralda García (Santyuste Parcela Las Mañanas), Andrea Sanz (Magna Vides), Verónica Ortega (Roc) and Iria Otero (Sacabeira). On May 25th five wines made by women will feature on the tasting: Carmen Borrego & Ana Cabestrero (Maestro Sierra Fino), Rosa Pedrosa (Alala), Maite Sánchez (La Suerte de Arrayán), Cristina Carrillo (Toros de Guisando Syrah) and Pilar Esteve (La Mujer Caballo Naranja). Further information on +34 637 852998

19 May. Cruz Liljegren, wine broker and Spanish Wine Lover contributor, presents a very special tasting at Somm Wine Shop in Ibiza (Local 2A, Venda de Llatzer 9) with old Rioja vintages. Cruz will uncork bottles from 1962, 1964, 1966, 1970 and 1973 from well-known producers like Muga, Monte Real, CVNE and Coto de Imaz. Time: 19:00-22:00 Price: €100 Further information on +34 682 936115

19 May. Mario Zanusso, winemaker at I Clivi in the Collio region in northwest Italy, will today be at La Ruta del Vino in Santander (Arrabal, 18) presenting his wines sourced mostly from local varieties and vines aged between 60 and 70 years: RBL 2017 Brut Nature 100% Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia 2016 DOP Collio, Verduzzo seco 2016 DOP Friuli Colli Orientali, Ribolla Gialla 2017 DOP Trevenezie, Friulano San Pietro 2017 DOP Friuli Venezia Giulia and his single-vineyard wines Friulano Brazan 2015 DOP Collio Goriziano, Friulano Galea 2015 DOP Friuli Colli Orientali and Galea Merlot 2015 DOP Friuli Colli Orientali. Time: 20:00 Price: €20 Bookings on +34 942 21 65 03 

20 May. Txakolin Eguna is the name of the txakoli festival held in the village of Amurrio, the capital of the DO Txakoli de Alava, the smallest appellation in the Basque Country. Participants will be able to taste a range of txakolis from the 2017 vintage paired with Euskolabel pintxos or food produced in the vicinity. There will also be a traditional Garrafas competition (a drink made with txakoli, ice, lemon and sugar), stands with artisan products and live music. Time: 12:00-17:30  

22 May. The Unión Española de Catadores (Lope de Vega, 27) in Madrid presents a vertical tasting of two wines made by Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, an advocate of Monastrell, one of the leading local varieties in Eastern Spain. Led by Pepe Mendoza, the tasting will include vintages 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015 of his wines Estrecho and Las Quebradas. Time: 19:00 Price: €35 (Members €20).

24 May. As part of their series Talks with Wine Producers, wine retailer Bodegas Santa Cecilia in Madrid (Blasco de Garay, 74) presents a tasting led by Rodolfo Bastida, technical director of Bodegas Ramón Bilbao, a group that makes wines in Rioja, Rueda, Rías Baixas and Ribera del Duero. The following wines will be tasted: Lalomba 2017, Ramon Bilbao Edición Limitada Lías Verdejo 2016, Mar de Frades Finca Valiñas 2014, Finca Los Hoyales 2014 and Mirto 2012. Time: 19:00 Price: €25 (members €20)

24 May. Bodegas Valtravieso in  Piñel de Arriba, Valladolid hosts a seminar under the title "Vintage effect in Ribera del Duero: interpretation and perspective of the 2017 vintage", to discuss the 2017 vintage from an agroclimatic point of view. The event will include the participation of experts such as Antonio Palacios, Ángel Anocíbar or Tomás Postigo among others. Time: 09:30 -16:30 Price: €25

24 May. Group Varma presents at restaurant Los Cabezudos in Zaragoza (Antonio Agustín, 12-14) a paired dinner with the following wines: Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée, Sanamaro Sobre Lías 2016 (Pazo San Mauro), Flamingo Rosé 2016 (Conde San Cristóbal), Conde San Cristóbal 2014, Marqués de Vargas Reserva 2012 and Bollinger Brut Rosé, all of them owned or distributed by the group. The tasting will be led by Omar Bravo, wine educator at  Varma. Time: 21:00 Price: €75 Infomration and bookings on +34 652 954 923

24 May.  Umami Gijón (Av. Rufo Rendueles, 8) presents a tasting with Verónica Ortega and her white and red wines from Bierzo: CAL Godello 2016, Quite 2016, Cobrana 2016 and ROC 2015. Time: 20:00 Price: €15

25 May. Wine merchant Majuelos Singulares in Valladolid (San Ignacio, 9) has invited María Sastre, winemaker at Astobiza, to present the txakolis she makes at this winery in Okondo (Álava): Astobiza 2015 (screw cap), Astobiza 2017, Astobiza Rosado 2017, Malkoa 2015 (8 meses lías), Malkoa 2015 (concrete, 20 months with the lees) and Vendimia Tardía 2015. Time: 20:30 Price: €15 Bookings on 983 370974

26 May. Wine bar Los Patios de Beatas in Málaga (Beatas, 43) hosts today a tasting of wines from the first wineries in the DO Sierra de Málaga: Bodegas Vetas, Federico Schatz, Descalzos Viejos, Conrad and Los Aguilares. The tasting will finish with a special menu featuring Payoyo cheese, sweetbreads with black pudding from Ronda, ox tail and a sweet dessert with chestnuts (€25). Time: 13:30 Cost of the tasting (€20) Bookings on +34 952 210350 

26-27 May. The village of Baños de Río Tobía in Rioja hosts an event to present the singularity of two local products like Garnacha and sausages. The event is set to commence on Saturday 26th with a conference about the vineyards and climate change in the valley and continues with a tasting of Garnacha wines from the Najerilla valley with the presence of winemakers and growers such as Raúl Acha (Vintae), Basilio Izquierdo, Clemente García, Elena Ortiz (Cooperativa del Najerilla), Pilar Torrecilla (Martínez Alesanco) and Aritz Espinosa (Vivanco). Sunday's professional tasting, led by editor Amaya Cervera, will be attended by wine growers and winemakers such as Álvaro Palacios, Jorge Navascués (Mas de Mancuso), Juan Carlos Sancha, Raúl Acha and Basilio Izquierdo. There will be a tasting of wines and sausages on Sunday, followed by a walk along the vineyards and a demonstration of traditional mule work in the vineyard. Price: €15 (Saturday), €50 (Sunday).

28 May. The Sommelier Association in Navarra host a tasting of different styles of champagne. Organized alongside the Champagne Committee, the tasting will be led by their ambassador Dani Corman, owner of Essencia Wine Bar & Store in San Sebastian. The following Champagnes will be tasted: Charles Heidsieck Rosé, Fleury Blanc de Noirs, Henriot Blanc de Blancs and Louis Dousset Assemblage. Where: Hotel Don Carlos, Huarte (Navarra). Sign up by May 24 on this address actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.com Time:: 19:00 Price: €50  A dinner will be served after the tasting (€25).

29 May. Cèsar Cànovas, sommelier at Monvinic (Diputació, 249) in Barcelona, will lead a journey through the wines of the US and their enormous diversity across the main wine regions in the country. The following wines will be tasted: Channing Daughters Long Island Vino Bianco 2013, Domaine Drouin Willamette Valley Arthur Chardonnay, Bergstrom Dindee Hills Pinot Noir Bergstrom Vineyard, Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvee 2003, Shafer Napa Valley Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2012, Deux Punx Lake County Grenache Tejada Vineyard 2011, Clos Saron Sierra Foothills Black Pearl 2008, Donkey and Goat Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Broken Leg Vineyard 2002, Ridge Dry Creek Valley Lytton Spring 2015, Bond Estates Napa Valley Matriarch 2006, Leonetti Columbia Valley Merlot 2006 and L'Ecole 41 Walla Walla Perigee Seven Hills Vineyard 2007. Time: 20:00 Price: €65

29 May. Wine bar Cork in Bilbao (Licenciado Poza, 45) has invited Alberto Nanclares, alma mater of Nanclares y Prieto, who will introduce his project in Rías Baixas as well as some additional wines he makes in other regions. The tasting will be followed by a few bites to eat. Time: 20:00. Price: €35 Bookings on info@corkbar.es

30 May. Restaurant Pura Cepa in Murcia (San José, 3) has organized a tasting and dinner to present the wines of Bruma del Estrecho, a project led by Elena Pacheco and Isio Ramos to make 100% Monastrell wines from various locations and vineyards in DO Jumilla. Price: €30 Bookings on +34 968 217 397 

31 May. Restaurant Entrevins in Valencia (Paz, 7) presents a vertical tasting of vintages by Dante Rivetti, a family producer in Piedmont who makes this Barbaresco Riserva Bricco di Neive that will be tasted today. Four decades and the following vintages: 1989, 1998, 2007 and 2012. Time: 21:00 Price: €54 Bookings on +34 963 333 523

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