Wine tastings in October 2020

Far from improving, the health situation in Spain has become more complicated in the early autumn. With restricted mobility and meetings and limited numbers of participants in many towns and cities, the impact of Covid on on-site wine-related activities is considerable. Some, especially in Madrid, have been cancelled or delayed and there is ongoing uncertainty about the tastings and on-site events that are scheduled and set to go ahead. We will continue to update the agenda with the latest news and updates as events unfold.

1,8 and 15 October. At Valenciso they are still harvesting but they do not stop their wine culture activities on their Instagram account @valencisorioja. On the 1st, Luis Valentín will talk to Pedro Ballesteros MW and taste the new Valenciso Graciano 2017, while on the 8th the co-owner of the Ollauri winery will explain how the harvest is progressing while he tastes his Tempranillo rosé. On the 15th, Luis Valentín will hold a private tasting via Zoom. Anyone wishing to join will receive a bottle of barrel-fermented Valenciso Blanco 2018, a bottle of Valenciso Reserva 2014, a board with six types of cheese, a cheese knife and bread sticks. The cost of this activity, including postage and VAT, is €50 and can be booked at valenciso@valenciso.com. The three activities will take place at 19:30

2-4 October. Around 30 cava producers will take part on this edition of Cavatast in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona), a three-day event that has changed its format due to the coronavirus. This year, the four tasting sessions will be held in four different spaces in Sant Sadurní —Canals & Munné, Freixenet, Codorníu and Vilarnau— with restricted entry.  Tickets cost €35 and include a tasting of six cavas + food and chocolate tasting.

2-31 October. DO Alella presents Vi+, with about 20 activities to showcase the wines of the area, including walks through the vineyard, wine tastings, paired dinners, music and photography. Some of the activities are free. For more information and reservations, click on the link above.

Until 4 October. The fourth edition of Festival Terrer brings together music, landscapes and Priorat wine culture, with a focus on sustainability, heritage and territory. With a smaller format, in open-air spaces and with numbered seats due to the virus, there will be live concerts and wines from Montsant and Priorat. Check prices and venues in the link above.

8, 14, 15, 21, 22 and 29 October. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid Lope de Vega, 27) presents a varied tastings agenda this month featuring orange wines with Luis Vida (8th, €35), native varieties from Valencia with Fernando Gurucharri (14th, €35), wines made with the Rebula variety in Slovenia and Italy (15th, €50), the best wines in Portugal according to the trade publication Grandes Escolhas (21st, €35), a tasting with producer Alfredo Maestro (22nd, €35) and a vertical tasting of Protos Gran Reserva (29th, €35). Discounts for members. Time: 19:00 Call +34 914 293 477 to book a seta

8, 15 and 22 October. Madrid wine store Lavinia (Ortega y Gasset, 16) hosts online tastings via Zoom with various themes that this month include Rioja vs Ribera (8th, €95), Crazy about Garnacha (15th, €95) and Cava vs Champagne (22nd, €125). Send an email to laviniaempresas@lavinia.com to book a spot at least ten days before the event. Time: 19:00-20:30 Prices include the wines, shipping within the country and the tasting.

8 and 29 October. Sommelier Eduardo Camiña, of Lagüiña Lieux-Dit in Meaño (Pontevedra), presents a series of autumn tastings at his exciting new place. On the first one, Eduardo will open Chardonnays from around the world (sold out) and on the last one on 29th, he will have German wines from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Price: €50 Bookings on  +34 659 298468

15, 22 and 29 October. Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) also hosts three online tastings this month featuring an introduction to Pinot Noir in Burgundy (15th, €105), Barolo (22nd, €105) and Godello whites (29th, €60). Time: 20:30 Prices include three bottles of wine, shipping within Spain and the tasting. Call this number to book your seat: +34 91 745 1927

19 October. The Experiencia Verema returns to Barcelona, which is being held at the Palace Hotel (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 668). There will be a  showroom with producers and two tastings: one with Ramón Bilbao and another one with DO Ribera del Duero. Hours: 12:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 21:00. Price: €10 online and €15 at the gate. CANCELLED

19 October. Femmes du Vin is a not for profit organization born in Canada that values and promotes the voices of all women in wine through education, scholarships and mentorship. On October 19th, they host an interesting seminar in English for Spanish wine lovers: "Rioja, the Roots That Connect Us", with Ana Fabiano, Carmen Pérez Garrigues and Cristina Forner, moderated by Jacky Blisson MW. Time: 18:00 Spanish time (12pm ET). Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $10/seminar

20, 21 and 22 October. Bodegas Lecea in San Asensio (La Rioja) hosts every year the Fiesta del Pisado de la Uva (Grape Treading Party). This year, Covid-19 forces them to do it online, with tasting with Luis Alberto Lecea on Zoom (20th, 20:00), discounts to buy their wines and the opportunity to follow on Facebook and Instagram the treading in the stone press (21st) and the pressing of the grapes (22nd). Further information at enoturismo@bodegaslecea.com

27 October. Wine learning centre Artean Wines in Bilbao presents a session about New Zealand wines, an activity with sommelier Agustín Trapero as host. Any interested wine lovers should apply before October 18th. Location: Espacio Pangea in Plaza Indautxu, Bilbao. Time: 19:00-21:30 Price: €80 (includes a dossier and eight wines). Inscriptions by email: info@arteanwines.com

Videos and podcasts

Agustín Santolaya from Bodegas Roda in the Haro Station District in Rioja, publishes a daily video explaining vineyard tasks. The entire series, with over 225 videos, is set to finish this month coinciding with the end of the harvest and is available on the winery's YouTube channel.

For anyone interested in viticulture, the La Filoxera team, which includes journalist Irene Guede, viticulture specialist Julián Palacios and researcher and director of viticulture at the Public University of Navarra Gonzaga Santesteban, publish a monthly video podcast focusing on this fundamental aspect of vine growing but in a very relaxed tone. The videos are available on their YouTube channel but can also be listened to on Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcast or ivoox.

Do you know of any interesting wine events which are not on this list? Send us what you are doing at home to yolanda@spanishwinelover.com