Wine tastings in November 2020

The restrictions imposed by the pandemic on practically the entire Iberian Peninsula also have an impact on wine tastings and events, which are more restricted and subject to cancellation or unplanned changes based on the evolution of the virus. With an increasing number of bars and restaurants closed or with reduced opening hours and travel restrictions between regions, opportunities to enjoy food and wine outside our homes are decreasing but there are still a handful of on-site and online events for wine enthusiasts.

2-8 November. Sherry wines celebrate their International Week with a variety of events many of them online, in 22 countries as diverse as the US, Belgium, Brazil, Australia and Japan. There will be over 100 activities in Spain, including special menus in restaurants paired with sherry, online tastings and discounts in shops. In addition, the Sherry Regulatory Board hosts several online activities on its Instagram account @sherrwinesjerez, such as the presentation of the book Sherry Uncovered by Beltrán Domecq, who will talk to Sarah Jane Evans MW, the annual #TwitterTasting, which this year is broadcast on Zoom with three wines from the 1950s and 1960s and three wines from the same brands recently bottled with Ruben Luyten (Sherry Notes) as host, or an amontillado tasting with Ferran Centelles. Check the calendar of events by country and the online agenda.

3-17 November. With the new restrictions on movement in La Rioja, Bodegas Franco-Españolas is holding several open days for the people of La Rioja who wish to visit this century-old urban winery. The guided tours are free of charge (insert code 130ANIVERSARY when making the reservation), are staggered and comply with all the recommended safety requirements. More information on telephone +34 941 251290

4, 5, 11, 12, 19 and 24 November. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents half a dozen on-site tastings for this month which include Ancestral Varieties from La Mancha (4th, €35), Châteauneuf du Pape 2017 (5th, €45), Slovenian Rebula (11th, €50), Alberto Orte and his wines (12th, €35), Mª José Yravedra and her Ronsel do Sil wines (19th, €35) and Antonio Flores with the Finos Palmas (24th, €45). Time: 19:00

5-15 November. Penedès and Priorat have postponed the ninth edition of the Most Festival, which brings together the best audiovisual production about vineyards, wine and cava, but the broadcasting of two dozen wine-related films on the Filmin platform has been maintained so that wine lovers can enjoy a piece of Most at home.

6 and 13 November. Producer in Terra Alta Bàrbara Forés presents the new vintages of its wines En Moviment - Ancestral Morenillo 2019, Garnatxa Blanca 2018, Macabeu 2018 and Garnatxa Negra 2019 - with two online tastings on Instagram and the possibility of purchasing these wines with home delivery for €70. The deadline to buy them is 3rd November. More information at pili.sanmartinferrer@gmail.com

9-15 November. The Setmana del Vi Català (Catalan Wine Week) is held online with interviews, round tables, talks and tastings and with the presence of all the region's appellation. The schedule can be followed live on the Setmana website or via YouTube.

10 November. Agricultural engineers Gonzaga Santesteban and Julián Palacios, the latter also a grape grower, present a free online seminar called vine grafting and pruning: 100 years of solitude? which will address issues such as the importance of a balanced vineyard, the longevity of vineyards and key concepts and pruning techniques in different vine training systems. Time: 11:00-12:30

12 November - 22 December. For its tenth anniversary, DOP Sierra de Salamanca has invited Marcelino Calvo, sommelier at restaurant El Ermitaño in Benavente (Zamora) and a true wine lover, to present the producers who form part of the appellation with interviews on the @dopsierradesalamanca Instagram account on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first is Bodegas y Viñedos Rochal (12th), followed by Vinos La Zorra (17th), Don Celestino (19th), Dominio de la Sierra (24th), Cuarta Generación (26th), Perahigos (1st), Cámbrico (3rd), San Esteban (10th), El Abuelo Flores (15th), El Robledo (17th) and Ruta del Vino Sierra de Francia (22nd). Time: 19:00

16, 17, 23 and 24 November. The Unión Española de Catadores de Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) hosts the Canary Wine Expert Course organized by the Canary Wine Academy with classroom lessons and various tastings of wines from the islands. The training, aimed at sommeliers, hospitality professionals and trade journalists, is both classroom-based and online. Time: 10:30-13:00. Further details on +34 914 293477

17 November. British trade magazine Harpers Wine & Spirits hosts an online seminar about Ribera del Duero and the region's potential in the current UK market with the presence of Harpers' editor Andrew Catchpole, and the writer and Master of Wine Tim Atkin. The session will see each of the panellists give their expert view and there will be the opportunity for audience Q&A. Hora: 15:30 (Spanish time, 14:30 UK time). Click on the link above to take part.

17, 20 and 24 November. Enoteca Barolo (Príncipe de Vergara, 211, Madrid) hosts three online tastings this month: red wines from Cadiz made with Tintilla de Rota (17th, €65), wines from Tuscany (20th, €105) and Canary Islands whites (24th, €75). Time: 20:30 Click on the link above to purchase the wines and get them delivered to your home.

20 and 27 November. Wine learning centre Artean Wines in Bilbao hosts a couple of activities via Zoom for the following weeks: "From the vineyard to the glass: how wine is made" includes basic information about the subject (20th) and "Introduction to the Wines of Galicia", an online seminar led by Ricardo Sanchoyarto, behind the blog Aprender de Vino, with the possibility of buying the three wines that will be presented in the session.

23-27 November. Media outlet NueveCuatroUno in Logroño (La Rioja) presents  Harvest Diary, an event with four round tables and a tasting session throughout the week. The schedule is as follows: The Covid harvest and the year of the pandemic with speakers such as José Luis Lapuente, director of the Rioja Control Board, and spokespersons for producers and winegrowers (Ibercaja Cultural Centre, 23rd, 18:30), New projects and the future of Rioja (University of La Rioja, 24th, 19: 00), Rioja, gastronomy and hospitality with Chefe Paniego and Carlos Echapresto, among other sommeliers (Sala Negra, 25th, 19:00), Journalism and Rioja, new communication scenarios with Samuel Fernández from La Rioja Alta and myself (Bodegas Ontañón, 26th, 19:00) and tasting of the 2020 harvest (Calado, 27th, 18:00 and 20:00). The talks will be broadcast on the NueveCuatroUno YouTube channel. To be in the audience, please call 941574040 

26 November. Wine learning centre @vinaliti_ in Málaga has invited Jorge Ordóñez to talk about his vision of the world of wine and his experience in a live chat on Instagram. Time: 18:30

26 November. Restaurant Entrevins in Valencia (La Paz, 7) presents a tasting of Champagne with cuvées from Eric Rodez paired with four tapas. Time: 21:00-22:30 Price: €55 For further information and bookings, send an email to v.entrevins@entrevins.es

30 November. The Denomination of Origin Uclés hosts the 6th Sustainability Conference, which this year will be held online. Among the speakers are Pedro Ballesteros MW, whose presentation is entitled "Sustainability: an entelechy", the researcher and agricultural engineer Jesús Yuste Bombín who will talk about the orientation of the production factors of the vineyard to have a sustainable terroir, Marta Gómez Palenque, from the Regional Ministry of Sustainable Development of Castilla-La Mancha, who will talk about the transition to the circular model of the wine sector and Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, from the European Committee of Wine Companies, who will speak about the new CAP. Time: 10:00-13:30 The conference is free of charge but it is necessary to register beforehand by sending an email tocomunicaciondoucles@gmail.com

30 November and 1 December. The Experiencia Verema has announced new dates this month in Alicante (Hotel Alicante Golf, San Juan Playa, 6th - cancelled), Bilbao (Hotel Barceló Bilbao Nervión, 16th - cancelled), Barcelona (Hotel Palace, postponed to Dec 14th), Murcia (Real Casino, postponed to Dec 21st) and Madrid (30th and 1st Dec, Green Patio), with a showroom of producers and some confirmed tastings. Further details on the link above. Opening hours: 12:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00 Price: €10 online and €15 at the gate (free for trade professionals).