Wine tastings in November 2017

Thousands of manzanilla, fino and other fortified wines will be poured this week to celebrate International Sherry Week with events across the world in the second week of November, coinciding with the International Wine Tourism Day. Aside from these activities to promote these wonderful wines, there are plenty more events for wine lovers across Spain. Check our agenda throughout the month for updates!

1 November. Producer Luis Pérez organizes a charity tasting with the proceeds going to Galgos & Friends. This renowned sherry and still wines producer based in Jerez will uncork the following wines: El Muelle de Olaso, El Triángulo, Garum and Samaruco. Time: 12:00 Price: €10 € Tickets can be purchased on the winery’s page and by telephone on +34 629 760181

1-12 November. The Ribera del Guadiana Wine Route, based on a western Spanish region close to the Portuguese border, presents Los Colores de la Vendimia which includes a wide variety of tastings and winery tours, still wine and cava pairings with the region’s local food, ham cutting workshops, barrel decoration competitions, balloon trips and wine stays in various places around the province of Cáceres. Dates vary and prices start from €12.

2 November. Juanma Terceño, sommelier at González Byass in Jerez, will be today at Bodega Urbana in Bilbao (Gran Vía, 66) to present the following sherries: first saca or draw of the Finos Palmas 2017 collection, Amontillado AB  and Amontillado Del Duque VORS. It’s a great opportunity to discover what lies beyond famous Tío Pepe Fino. Time: 18:00 Price: €10 Bookings on +34 944 416181

2-12 November. The seventh edition of Catalonia's Most Festival in Penedès and Priorat features some very interesting films about vineyards, wine and cava culture. On this occasion, films and shorts will be screened at different locations, including some wineries such as Celler Battle, Albet i Noya or Celler Pardas, among others and they will be followed by cheese and wine tastings. Tickets can be purchased on the festival’s website with prices ranging between €5 and €30.

3-5 November. The town of Gandesa, in Catalonia's Terra Alta, celebrates its 30th Wine Festival with a calendar of activities which includes a showroom with wines from 30 producers and Garnacha Blanca Night, with a variety of wines paired with tapas prepared by a local restaurant. As well as live music, there will be tastings, a popular dinner with clotxa, a traditional meal prepared by local farmers and guided tours of the area's wineries throughout the weekend.

5 November. For wine aficionados with young children, Bodegas Bohedal has prepared a wine painting workshop for children so that the little ones can learn and enjoy their time in a winery while the parents taste the wines made by this family producer in Cuzcurrita (La Rioja). Price: Adults €10 and kids €5.

6 November. Producers, sommeliers, journalists, distributors and the general public will have a chance to take part in the new edition of Salón Vinoro at the Westin Palace Hotel in Madrid where there will be wines which have received awards in several Spanish competitions. Time: 19:30 - 22:00 Price: €25

6 November.  Wine tasting school Vinaliti in Málaga (Salinas, 3) presents a tasting with Antonio Menéndez, director general at Vega Sicilia, who will talk about the history of one of Spain's iconic producers while participants try six of their wines. Time: 20:30 Further information on +34 952 218 906

6-12 November. Sherry Triangle wines celebrate their International Week with all kinds of events across the world in countries such as the US, Germany, South Africa, Brasil or Japan. The list of activities in Spain, over 250 listed, includes paired Sherry dinners, tastings at the Sherry Triangle wineries, show cookings, tours of the wineries and promotions in many bars and stores. Check on the previous link the calendar of events around the world.

6-12 November. Visitors to the Canary Islands might come across Malvasía Week in Lanzarote with a bunch of fun wine activities like a masterclass to learn how to paint with wine at Bodegas El Grifo, a wine and literature workshop at  Bodega La Florida, yoga and wine at Bodegas Rubicón, a gathering of winegrowers , a bus tour that will take passengers to various bodegas in La Geria and menus paired with Lanzarote wines at several restaurants in the island. Click on the link above for times and prices.

7 November. Cork (Licenciado Poza, 45), Bilbao’s most dynamic wine bar, has invited Raquel Grandival and Iván López-Barco, from Bodegas Caudalia (Navarra), to present the wines they make in San Martín de Unx. After the tasting, pintxos will be served by Cork owner, Jonathan. Time: 20:00 Price: €30 Further information on +34 944 425005 

8 November. El Mostrador de Vila Viniteca in Madrid (General Díaz Porlier, 45) presents a tasting of 2010 Burgundy wines with the following names: Château Fuissé Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes, La Maison Romane Chablis Les Clos, Morey-Blanc Meursault Genevrières, Philippe Pacalet Pommard 1er Cru Les Arvelets, Morey-Blanc Aloxe Corton Clos du Chapitre, Domaine D'Eugénie Vosne-Romanée Clos d'Eugénie and Maison Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux-Saint-Jacques (Magnum). Time: 20:00 - 22:00 Price: €64 (Members €56).

8 November. Ex broadcaster turned winemaker Orlando Lumbreras presents  Malandro, a wine made in clay vessels buried in a vineyard at 1,150 metres of altitude in Navalmoral de la Sierra, where he is restoring a winery called Bodega de los Carvajales thanks to a crowdfunding project. Time: from 20:00 at Taberna Vinos DeLiberados in Madrid's Mercado de Vallehermoso.

9 November. Bilbao wine retailer Manu Martín organizes Bizkai Vinos, an event open to trade professionals and aficionados. Now on its 19th edition, there will be 300 wines from 80 producers including Bárbara Palacios (Barbarot) or Carlos Sánchez (Las Bacantes, La Esquirla del Bardallo, La Cantarada) and Abel Mendoza among others. Location: Palacio Euskalduna in Bilbao (Sala E). Time: 17:00 - 21:00 Price: 10 €

9 November. Restaurant Guardaviñas in Logroño (Marqués de San Nicolas, 47) presents a tasting of six Rhône wines with different styles and origins both in the north and south of the region. It will be led by Alberto Ruiz, owner of Guardaviñas and manager of La Cava de Pyrene, a distributor specialized in small producers. There will be a few bites to eat after the tasting. Time: 20:30 Price: €40 Bookings on +34 941 123192

10 November. Jorge G. Balsera, better known in social media as Sibaritastur, hosts a day out for anyone wanting to share good wines. He calls it #TimbaVinicola and this will be its 18th edition. The idea is to hop from place to place in Oviedo to try a few chosen wines along the way. “I present the wines and then we drink; it’s not a formal tasting as such but rather an informal gathering with good wines,” says Jorge. On this occasion, all the wines are from Jerez to celebrate #SherryWeek. The price is proportional to the wines shared. Further information on the event hashtag on Twitter and Facebook or here: sibaritastur@gmail.com Last day to sign up: 6 November

10 November. To celebrate International Sherry Week is in full swing, wine store La Mercería in Boadilla del Monte (Avenida Siglo XXI, 4) presents a tasting of Zerej, the joint project between Barbadillo and Armando Guerra. The tasting therefore includes Zerej 1 (a dry white wine under a veil of flor), Zerej 2 Manzanilla amontillada, Zerej 3 Oloroso, Zerej 4 Palo Cortado and as a bonus, manzanilla Solear en Rama Saca de Otoño 2017 (which happens to be SWL's wine of the week!). Time: 20:00 Precio: 13 €

11 November. Tasta Porrera is a festival of wines and local cuisine organized by the Association of Producers from this Priorat enclave along with the town council as part of the town’s festivities. Time: 11:00 - 14:00 Details of the festival have yet to be published. 

11 November. The second edition of Vinofest Navarra in Tudela will take place in Gaztambide theatre with the presence of 12 producers who will serve over 70 white, red and rosé wines and the music of Dj Bohemian Soul. Opening hours: 11:30-14:30 and 18:00-21:00.

13 and 27 November. After visiting several Spanish cities this year, the Experiencia Verema travels to Vigo and Barcelona. Over 30 producers will show their wines in Vigo where wine lovers will have a chance to take part in a tasting of wines from the DO Ribera del Duero. Around 70 producers will bring their wines to taste in Barcelona, where there will be four masterclass tastings with LAN, Ramón Bilbao and the Ribeiro and Ribera del Duero appellations. Time: 12:00 - 21:00 Price: €5 online and €10 € at the gates.

15 November. There are a few tastings with producers this month at Lavinia in Madrid (Roberto Oliván, Valenciso, Numanthia, dinner with Francisco Hurtado de Amézaga from Marqués de Riscal) as well as a round table about Rioja and social media with Santiago Rivas (Colectivo Decantado) acting as moderator. One of the issues that will be discussed at this event is whether the gastro hype in the media is likely to be extended to wine. Time: 18:30 Price: €25

15 November. Bartolomé Sánchez, sommelier and honorary president of OpusWine leads today at Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) a tasting under the name “the new vignerons” dedicated to the emerging generation of growers-winemakers-creators in the Spanish wine scene. Time: 19:00 Price: €35 ( €20 members).

16 November. Bodega Santa Cecilia (Núñez de Balboa, 103) in Madrid has invited Rioja winemaker Marcos Eguren to lead a vertical tasting of two of his wines: El Puntido 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013 (DOCa Rioja) and Victorino 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014 (DO Toro). Price: €35 (€30 for members) Time: 19:00 - 21:00

16 November. Los Quesos de l'Amélie (Torrecilla del Puerto, 5, Local 1) in Madrid hosts Beaujolais Nouveau fest, a date celebrated internationally that marks the release of these wines in a frenzy of promotion on the third Thursday of November. These wines, intended for immediate consumption, will be accompanied with cheeses specially paired for the occasion. Booking is not necessary. 

16 November. Wine bar Los Patios de Beatas (Beatas, 43) in Málaga presents a  paired dinner and tasting of Gran Reserva wines with the following names: Viña Gravonia 2007, Perica Gran Reserva 2006 y 2001 and Toro Albalá Pedro Ximénez 1987. Time: 21:30 Price: €40 Bookings on +34 952 210350

17 November. Wine merchant Majuelos Singulares in Valladolid (San Ignacio, 9) presents a tasting of domestic and international Mediterranean wines: Le Petit Pas 2015 (Côtes du Roussillon), Pettirosso 2014 (Toscana), Albahra 2016 (Almansa), Bassus Finca Casilla Herrera 2013 (Valencia), Occhipinti SP68 2016 (Sicilia) y Perill Noir 2007 (Penedès). Time: 20:30 Price: €10 Information and bookings on +34 983 370974

18 November. Bodegas Franco-Españolas in Logroño (Cabo Noval, 2) hosts its fifth Fashion Day with a Wine Fashion Market where visitors will be able to purchase fashion items, take part in workshops and try pinchos and wine with live music in the winery's gastrobar. Time: 11:00-21:00 Free entry.

18-19 November. The third edition of Champagne Weekend A la Volé returns to the old quarter of Segovia with a fun-filled weekend for wine lovers with top tastings led by some of Spain’s most renowned Champagne experts such as Jordi Melendo, who opens the event with a tasting of rosé Champagnes (€25), Juancho Asenjo, who will lead a tasting of Champagne and Jerez (€35) or Enrique García with a vertical tasting of Dom Perignon bottles (€100 €), among others. As well as the tastings, there will be live music with The Fuzillis (€25) and a BYO meal for all participants to finish the day (€60).

21 November. César Cánovas, Monvínic brand ambassador, presents today a paired tasting of wine and Valrhona chocolates and the following wines: Samuel Tinon Tokaj 5 puttonyos, Matías i Torres La Palma Malvasía aromática naturalmente dulce, Alella Marfil Generós Sec, Château Cantemerle Haut-Médoc 2010, De Müller Tarragona Aureo Sec 1954, Bodegas Iglesias Condado de Huelva PAR Vino Naranja, Bodegas Olivares Jumilla Dulce Monastrell, Marco de Bartoli Marsala Superiore Oro and Pandorga Pedro Ximenez. The tasting will be held at Monvinic in Barcelona  (Diputació, 249). Time: 20:00 Price: €45 

23 November. Fintan Kerr, the Brit behind Wine Cuentista and now preparing his WSET Diploma, hosts today (San Pere Mes Baix, 92) a tasting of Spanish wines (in English) in Barcelona. Under the title The New Spain, the tasting is a tribute to John Radford, the Spanish wine specialist who wrote a book with the same name. The wines on the table are: As Sortes 2014 (Rafael Palacios), Aspriu 2012 (Celler Pardas), Lousas Viñas de Aldea 2015 (Envínate), Teixar 2013 (Vinyes Domenech), El Puño 2013 (El Escocés Volante) and Abel Mendoza Selección Personal 2014. Time: 19:00 Price: €30 and includes a welcome glass of cava. Booking is necessary. Email fintankerr@winecuentista.com 

23 November. Dani Frías, owner and winemaker at Ibai Viticultores, will be in Umami in Gijón (Avda. Rufo Rendueles, 8) to present his wines born on the 2015 vintage. Frías, who also works as technical director of the cooperative in Haro with 300 growers, has a thorough knowledge of the vineyards in the area. He selects some of the best to buy the grapes for his wines, Clos Ibai Red and White and others from experimental plots. Time: 20:00 Price: €15

23 November. The sixth Salón de las Estrellas by Guía Peñín will take place today in Madrid (Ático de Chamartín) . Participants will have a chance to taste wines with three, four or five stars on the 2018 edition of Guía Peñín 2018. Time: 16:00-20:00 Price: €30

24 November. Pepe Ferrer, sherry ambassador for gastronomy, presents at Fierro (Doctor Serrano, 4) in Valencia a masterclass followed by a dinner paired with  sherry wines. The masterclass is set to start at 17:00 and will finish at 19:00 and dinner will be served at 21:30 Price: €30

24 November. Wine retailer El Buen Gusto in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) presents a tasting of the García family wines (Mariano, and his sons Eduardo and Alberto). The following wines will be tasted: Mauro Godello 2015, Prima 2015, Garmon 2014, Garmon 2015 and Cartago 2013. Time: 20:00 Price: €25 Bookings on +34 983 377 199

24-26 November. An opportunity to taste wines from small Galician producers this weekend at the local market in Carballo (A Coruña) where visitors will find a wine tasting tunnel. Additionally, on the 24th at 19:00, there will be a round table to discuss "Galician wines on the vanguard of viticulture". Hours 25th and 26th (mornings only on this day): 12:00-14:30 and 18:00-20:30. Entrance is free but  those interested need to book in advance on +34 981 702 077 or at Carballo's Tourist Office.

25 November. Wine store Vinicia in Lleida presents The Stars Tasting 2017 with six wines from six producers based in different regions across Spain: Cava Rimarts, Francisco Barona (Ribera del Duero), Cims de Porrera (Priorat), Do Ferreiro (Rías Baixas), Celler Frisach (Terra Alta) and Zapiain (cider). The tasting will be held at restaurant El Mirador del Camps Elisis in Lleida. Further information on +34 973 247 554 Time: 17:00 Price: €35 (Members €25)

25 November. The DO Uclés hosts its Second Night Tasting at the imposing monastery of this town in Cuenca. Participants will be able to walk around its rooms, discover the history of the region and try a good selection of wines from the appellation. Two sessions are programmed: 18:00 and 20:00. Booking is required on +34 652 148 531 or via email: visitaucles@gmail.com 

25-26 November. Bodega Kirios de Adrada in the DO Ribera del Duero organizes an organic agriculture course aimed at wine professionals and aficionados who want to acquire basic skills about organic and sustainable wine growing and winemaking. The course, led by grower and winemaker Jesús Lázaro de Diego, includes a vertical tasting of Kirios de Adrada organic wines. Price: €120 

27 November. Under the title Discovering Champagne through its land and wines, expert Jordi Melendo will visit Bodegas Valtravieso (Finca La Revilla s/n, Piñel de Arriba, Valladolid) to present a Champagne masterclass with eight wines from various parts of the region followed by a paired lunch. Additionally, all participants will receive a Guía Melendo del Champagne (Melendo's guide about Champagne) for free. Time: 10:30 - 17:00 Price: €75 

27 November. Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211, Madrid has invited young biodynamic producer Claus Preisinger to present a tasting of the wines he makes in Austria: Kalkundkiesel 2015 and 2016, Edelgraben Grüner Veltliner 2013, Kalkstein 2016, Claus Preisinger Pannobile 2013 and Pinot Noir 2015 (magnum). Time: 20:30 Price: €30 

29 November. The tasting today at Vila Viniteca (Agullers, 7) in Barcelona is a great occasion to taste Cavas with at least seven years' aging made by some of the top producers in the DO Cava. The following Cavas will be tasted blind: Huguet Gran Reserva Brut Nature 2009, Rovellats Masia S.XVI 2007, Llopart Original 1887 Brut Nature 2009, Torelló Brut Gran Reserva by Etsuro Sotoo 2010, Gramona Celler Batlle 2006, Mas Via Vintage Gran Reserva Brut Premium 2000, Raventós i Blanc Manuel Raventós Gran Reserva Personal 2008 and Recaredo Turó d’en Mota 2005. Time: 20:00 - 22:00 Price: €59

29 November. Master of Wine Frank Smulders will be in Ribera del Duero today to lead a WSET 4 Diploma-level tasting. following the method of this wine education provider and including six quality wines with a similar profile. Price: €50 Location: Hotel Lagar de Isilla in La Vid. Price: €50 Further information and bookings on +34 660878702

29 November. The Recaredo family will be in Vinosfera (Rafael Alberti, 24) in Vitoria to present a tasting of their wines and talk about their work philosophy both in the vineyard and the winery. The wines will be accompanied by a selection of chocolates from Amatller and Simón Coll. Time: 19:00-21:00 Price: €15 Bookings on +34 945 247778

30 November. Sommelier and educator Juancho Asenjo travels to Essencia in San Sebastián (Zabaleta, 42) to present a tasting of wines from the right and left banks in Bordeaux. The tasting will be followed by some food. Time: 19:15 Price: €85 Bookings on +34 943326915

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 for free to info@spanishwinelover.com