Wine tastings in November 2023

As we do every month, we compile some of the most interesting events taking place in Spain. This month we highlight large fairs such as the Salón Peñín in Madrid, with more than 400 exhibitors, and other smaller ones, such as the Muestra de Vinos Mediterráneos La Odisea in Cocentaina, Off the Record in Madrid, the independent fair Castes in Vilagarcía de Arousa focused on wines from Galicia and beyond, or Sherry Week, with activities all over the world.

2-12 and 22-26 November. Film and wine festival Most 2023 hosts its 12th edition in two locations. The first will take place at the Viniseum Auditorium in Vilafranca del Penedès and the second in Priorat. Both will show wine-related films and documentaries, in some cases at several wineries in the Penedès, and there will be a choice of tastings, including wines from Italy, which is the guest country. For more information on opening times, prices and ticket sales, click on the link above.

3 November. Artean Wines education centre in Bilbao presents a tasting at Espacio Pangea (Plz. Indautxu) to get an in-depth look at Galician wines with a journey through the history, varieties, climates, soils, traditional and modern winemaking methods. Conducted by Jorge Vila, WSET graduate and director of Galicia Wine Academy, 10 wines from different areas will be tasted, produced by some of the leading producers in each area. A book (95 pages) with the concepts and contents of the course and a certificate of attendance will be handed out. Time: 15:30 to 20:30 Price: €150

3 November. Newspaper NueveCuatroUno presents a popular tasting of Rioja wines in the foyer of the Riojaforum Conference Centre in Logroño with the presence of around 20 wineries from the region, such as Bodegas del Medievo, Franco Españolas, López de Haro, Izadi, Bhilar, Javier Arizcuren, Villota, Pago de Larrea, Ontañón, Altanza (Fuenmayor), Clípeo Wines, Vivanco (Briones) and La Alcoholera. There will also be tapas and music. Time: 19:00 Price: €25 

3-5 November. The town of Gandesa, in Catalonia's Terra Alta, celebrates its 36th Festa del Vi with a calendar of activities which includes a showroom with wines from 30 producers and Garnacha Blanca Night, with around 40 wines that will be served in the Sala de Premses building owned by the Cooperative of Gandesa with food served by l’Antic Molí (1* Michelin). As well as live music, there will be tastings, a popular dinner with clotxa, a traditional meal prepared by local farmers, children’s activities and guided tours of the area's wineries throughout the weekend. Price: From €12, depending on the activity.

3, 7, 15, 23 and 24 November. Lavinia wine bar and restaurant in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) presents the following tastings this month: Clan de las Viejas Añadas, a lunch and wine tasting of Ribera del Duero wines dating back to the 1987 vintage ( 3rd, €80), Sherry wines (7th, €54.99), cava vs champagne at La Finca (15th, €54.99), Laurent Perrier champagnes (23rd and 24th, €70), bubbly series (24th - 1st Dec, €350) and a stroll through Spain's vineyards (25th, €50).

4-5 November. The second edition of Rebel Wine Fest, a festival of natural, organic and biodynamic wines, will take place this weekend at the San Agustín Market in A Coruña with 35 producers (Verónica Romero, Torremilanos, Makatzak, Sexto Elemento, Lagar do Vento, Mission, Adega do Vimbio, among others) presenting some 200 wines as well as round tables, gastronomy, music and prizes. Timetable: 11:00 to 21:00 (4th) and 11:00 to 18:00 (5th). Price: €30

6 November. The 8th edition of the International Wine Merchant Awards -for which this website is shortlisted in the Best Wine Communicator category- will take place today at the NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding hotel. Before the dinner and awards ceremony, there will be a wine showroom and Talks, with presentations by Álvaro Ribalta (Massal Selection), Jonatan García Lima (Suertes del Marqués), María Vargas (Marqués de Murrieta) and Win Vanleuven (La Buena Vida), among others. The event is open to all those who wish to attend and is free of charge except for the dinner (€121 per person).

6 November. The Association of Navarra Sommeliers presents at the Don Carlos Hotel in Pamplona a tasting of wines from Argentina with Valeria Gamper, best sommelier from the Americas in 2022. The wines to be tasted are: Finca Las Nubes Torrontes; El porvenir de Cafayate Pequeñas Fermentaciones and Laborum Cabernet Sauvignon; Durigutti Inframundo Natural, Las Compuertas Criolla Gobelet, Malbec 5 Suelos; Enzo Bianchi Gran Corte; Altar Uco Edad Moderna white and red; Zuccardi Botánico Chardonnay and Concreto Malbec; Luigi Bosca De Sangre White Blend; Salentein Single Vineyard Las Secuoyas Chardonnay; La Celia Paraje Altamira Malbec; Puerta del Abra Insólito Pinot Noir and Humberto Canale Old Vineyard Pinot Noir. Time: 19:00 - 21:30 Price: €20 After the tasting there will be a dinner at a cost of €30 per person. Registration before the 3rd at the link above.

6 November. The Designation of Origin Wines of Madrid presents at the Real Casa de Correos de la Puerta del Sol its XXIII Salón de los Vinos de Madrid with producers such as Las Moradas de San Martin, Ca di Mat, Bernabeleva, Tagonius, El Regajal, Vinabayona or Cuarto Lote, Sanesteban or Cristo del Humilladero, among others. Time: 12:00 to 19:00. More information at calduch@calduchcomunicacion.com

6-12 November. Sherry Week celebrates a whole week dedicated to sherry wines with hundreds of events in different cities around the world. You can check the full programme at the link above.

6, 13 and 20 November. The Verema Experience comes to Bilbao, Seville and Barcelona this month, with showrooms at hotel Carlton, hotel Alfonso XIII and the University of Barcelona, respectively. As well as the showroom with tasting tables manned by producers and regulatory boards, there will be themed tastings  with several producers and appellations.  Check the link for information on each city. Opening hours: 12:00 - 21:00 Price: from €15

7, 21, 22 and 29 November. Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) presents four activities this month. The first will be a tasting of Barolos from the 2019 vintage from renowned producers and led by Juancho Asenjo (7th, €90); the second is a tasting of whites from Italy, France, Hungary, Greece, Germany and Austria (21st, €55); the third is a pairing of gourmet chocolate with wines from around the world (22nd, €55) and finally a tasting of Travaglini wines (Docg Gattinara) with Alessia Travaglini.(29th, €50). Time: 20:30

4, 10, 24 and 25 November. Vin La Vie Vinos store in Madrid (Mercado de Ibiza, stall 8) presents a full agenda of tastings this month, including the following: Bodegas El Monte, from Montilla-Moriles (4th, €28), VORS by Cayetano del Pino (10th), Vin la Vie anniversary party with the presence of producers Vizar, Montemundo, Alto de Pioz and Cardeña (24th) and a tasting of four wines from Conde de los Andes, Muriel's winery in Ollauri (25th, €29). More information on +34 690827856

10 November. Eduardo Eguren will be at the El Buen Gusto Vinos shop in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2, Parquesol) with a selection of the wines he makes under the Cuentaviñas brand: Tinto Fino (Ribera del Duero), Garnacha, Alomado, El Tiznado and Los Yelsones, the latter from Rioja. Time: 20:00 Price: €30 Registration by email: info@elbuengustovinos.es

11 November. Tasta Porrera is a wine and food fair organised by the Porrera Winery Association and the town council. During the day visitors will be able to taste wines from the two dozen wineries in the village accompanied by local dishes and buy the wines direct from the producer. Time: 11:00 - 15:00 Price: €25 for the wine tasting plus €15 for lunch.

11 November. The Celler Modernista in Sant Cugat del Vallès hosts the tenth edition of Festa del Vi Novell with the presence of eight Catalan wineries from five appellations. The event will be hosted by chef Artur Martínez of the restaurant Aurt and will include a performance by the town's castellers. Opening hours: 17:30 to 21:00

13 November. The Madrid edition of Vinos Off the Record will be held at Espacio Larra (Larra, 14) with the presence of producers such as Albamar, Verónica Ortega, Barco del Corneta, Sílice Viticultores, Puro Rofe, Las Pedreras, Lectores Vinos and Fredi Torres (one of the organisers), Bentomiz, L'Enclos de Peralba, Celler Pardas, Finca Sandoval and Corazón Continto Lumbrales, among others. Time: 11:00-20:00 Tickets: €15 (€20 at the door).

13 November. For those who want to discover and taste natural and low-intervention wines, the Vella Terra showroom in Madrid (Dimad Central de Diseño, Matadero) will host more than 40 Spanish producers and as many from countries such as Italy, France, Portugal, Austria and even Peru. Among the locals will be Alfredo Maestro, Alfredo Egia, Loxarel, Malaparte, Lagravera, Constantina Sotelo, Chato Gañan, Punta de Flecha, Azpillaga Urarte, Gratias and many more. Opening hours: 13:00-20:00 Price: €24.20

13-14 November. More than 400 exhibitors from 70 producing areas will be present at the XXI Salón de los Mejores Vinos de España, organised by the Peñín Guide at Pavilion 2 in Ifema Madrid (Campo de las Naciones), where visitors will be able to taste wines that have scored 90 or more points in the Guide, some 2,000 in total. The showroom is rounded off by a programme of tastings and masterclasses from the Campo de Borja, Cava, El Hierro, Rioja, Somontano and Valencia designations of origin, as well as producers Pere Ventura and Osborne, and the Spanish Wine Academy project. Opening hours 13th: 12:00 to 20:00 and 14th: 11:00 to 15:00.

14, 16, 23, 25 and 26 November. The wine education centre Lust for Wine in Burgos (Plaza Alonso Martínez, 7A Office 57) presents its programme of wine events this month starting on the 14th with "Te leo un Vino" in Música y Deportes at Paseo del Espolón, 16 (19:30, €8). On the 16th and 23rd Pilar Cruces will conduct a presentation on Beaujolais Nouveau at Lust for Wine (€45) and at La Pícara Gastroteca (€35) in Aranda de Duero (C. Sta. María, 2) respectively, to finish on the 25th and 26th with a wine tasting, live music and creation of a sensory painting together with Pedro Bartolomé at Art Terra Burgos (€46). Discounts for club members. More information and bookings on +34 638 661 408

16 November. Eguren Ugarte winery in Laguardia hosts a new edition of the Rioja Alavesa Wine Tourism Forum with presentations on trends in hospitality, trade, and ine consumption with sommelier Jon Andoni Rementería, from Remenetxe restaurant near Gernika, and how to lead wine tourism projects in the rural world. Time: 09:30-17:30 Price: €30

17-18 November. During the 26th Jornadas del Vino Fino, to be held at Bodegas Alameda in El Puerto de Santa María (Los Moros, 3), sherry aficionados will be able to attend a round table discussion entitled "The Potential of Biological Ageing" with the presence of Pepe Ferrer and winemakers Montse Molina (Barbadillo), Marcos Alguacil (Osborne) and Juan José Mesa (Williams & Humbert) before tasting samples of wines from various bodegas in the Sherry region. On the 18th, at 12:30, there will be a tasting of Williams & Humbert wines led by Pepe Ferrer, from the Regulatory Board, with the following wines: Finolis 2019, Sobretablas Añina 2022, Sobretablas Carrascal 2022, Fino de Añada 2015, Burujena Fino de Añada 2017, Carrascal Fino de Añada 2017, Añina Fino Pando and Fino Don Zoilo. More information and bookings at secretaria.ateneodelvino@gmail.com Admission is free but the cost of the tasting on the 18th is yet to be determined.

17-19 November.The Association of Cava Producers from Requena hosts the 9th Valencian Cava Fair at Mercado de Colón in Valencia with producers such as Coviñas, Chozas Carrascal, Dominio de la Vega, Hispano Suizas, Pago de Tharsys, Torre Oria and Unión Vinícola del Este. More information on the link.

18 November. As part of the mountain film festival in Torelló (Barcelona), there will be a mountain wine showroom where visitors will be able to taste, buy and discover wines from different producers. There will also be tastings led by sommelier David Seijas and jhistorian Romina Ribera. Prices from €30.

18 November. El Retro wine shop and bar on the outskirts of Pamplona (Bardenas Reales, 68, Sarriguren) presents a tasting of five wines paired with five different cheeses. Details will be published a few days before the tasting. Time: 12:00 - 13:30 Price: €30

19 November. Castes, the independent wine fair, returns to the Plaza de Abastos in Vilagarcía de Arousa (Pontevedra), hosting a show with over 80 national and international producers. In addition to music, a food court and a wine showroom, in the Aula Castes workshops there will be vertical tastings of iconic producers and a variety of workshops. In addition, the fifth international team tasting championship will be held, with prizes for the first team and lots for the runners-up.(11:00-13:00, €150 per team). Opening hours: 13:00-19:30

19 November. Cuttoo Space in Arganzuela (Madrid) hosts Sabático Wine Fest, a festival for producers and consumers of natural wines. There will also be gastronomy and live music. Among the confirmed producers are La Microbodega del Alumbro (Zamora), Aristu & Ibonen Ardoak (Navarra), Les Astronautes (Toro), Clos de Les Soleres (Barcelona) and Uva de Vida (Toledo). Opening times: 11:00 - 21:00

20 November. The 12 producers in Corpinnat hold the first Salón Corpinnat in Barcelona (Hotel Avenida Palace, Gran Vía 605) with a selection of some of their sparkling wines. In addition to the two morning shifts for professionals, there will be two afternoon sessions for the general public: from 16:00 to 18:00 and from 18:00 to 20:00. Price: €40

20 November. Winelovers in Salamanca (Íscar Peyra, 5) has invited Jesús Madrazo, consultant and ex winemaker at Contino, to present his personal project in Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Time: 20:00 Price: €60

20 November. La Caníbal wine bar in Madrid (Argumosa, 28) presents a tasting with three young Ribeiro producers who work with natural, biodynamic and regenerative practices. They are Roberto Gándara, sommelier who did an internship at Fazenda Agrícola Augalevada with Iago Garrido, Valencia-born Amando González, established in the village of Roucos, and colleiteiro Adolfo Castro, who has worked with great producers in the area such as Bernardo Estévez and Luis Anxo Rodríguez. Time: 17:15 Price: €15

21 November. The group Mujeres del Vino presents in Madrid (Palacio de los Duques de Santoña, Huertas 13) an event where visitors can taste different wines from producers such as Clos Figueras, Mas Tinell, La Loba, Ochoa, Marco Abella, Clos Galena, Pla de Morei and Barbarot, among others. Time: 16:00 - 21:00 Price: €20

21 November. Wine education centre The Wine Studio in Madrid hosts a WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines session conducted by Nygil Murrell, who will pick a selection of wines to taste blind They are helpful to revise and strengthen your understanding of the wines of the world, as well as to learn how to sit the exams at this level. You do not need to be studying the Diploma to take part. Time: 17:30 to 20:00 Price: €55.

21 November. Over a dozen producers -Cámbrico, Rochal, La Zorra, Cuarta Generación, Don Celestino, Dominio de la Sierra, Perahigos, El Robledo, El Abuelo Flores, Viñas Serranas, Vínculo Serrano, Vinos Rabilargo Malahierba and Era Matea- from the Denominación de Origen Protegida Sierra de Salamanca will present their wines at the Casino in Salamanca. Made from Rufete Tinto and Blanco, it is a good opportunity to taste these little known varieties and producers. Time: 19:30-21:00 Price: €10

22, 29 and 30 November. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents several tastings at the end of this month. On 22nd Paco del Castillo presents a tasting of Olorosos from Montilla–Moriles, the wines from the Algarve will be the centre of the session on the 29th with Dani Poveda and Santiago Mora will lead the tasting of Grandes Vinos de Rueda. Time: 19:00 Price: €40

25 November. The Bodega del Tesoro in Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón in La Rioja presents its interesting Encuentros de Vino, an opportunity to get to know the projects of small winemakers in this region. Today Javier Peciña, Sístole Wine, Reditus, Víctor Ausejo, Bryan Macrobert, Vinos en Voz Baja and La Bodega del Tesoro will be present. There will also be a ham cutter and the price of admission includes three tapas, a visit to the winery and a concert.. Time: 11:30 Price: €50 

27 November. Around 20 producers from Spain, France, Italy and Crete will be present at the fifth edition of La Odisea, a Mediterranean wine showroom held at L'Escaleta restaurant in Cocentaina (Alicante) with producers such as Valdespino, Joan Rubió, Mesquida Mora, Pura Viña, Principiano, Eduardo Torres Acosta or Clos du Mont-Olivet, among others. As well as the showroom, there’s the possibility of having lunch at the restaurant (booking necessary). Price: €40 Opening hours: 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00

28 November. Wine education centre Artean Wine in Bilbao presents in Espacio Pangea (Plaza Indautxu) a seminar about Southafrica. Conducted by Juancho Asenjo, there will be eight wines to taste from different parts of the country. Time: 18:30 Price: €75 / 60 € members