Wine tastings in October 2021

Until now, on-site events were few and far between, but they are gradually gaining momentum, to the point that this month they  outnumber the online ones. There are vineyard runs, tastings and even a handful of wine shows while many producers, especially in the north, are still immersed in the grape harvest.

1-3 October. Around 20 cava producers will take part on this edition of Cavatast, a three-day event in private and public spaces in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona) with food, tastings, artisan products, winery tours, music and the presentation of Cava Women. Check the programe on the link above for further details.

3 October. Runners return to the Priorat Wine Run to take part in the half marathon and a 12K race through the vineyards of DO Priorat that will start and finish at Cooperativa Falset Marçà. At victualing points, and in cooperation with producers from the DO Montsant and DOQ Priorat, participants will find local products and wine. There will also be music and food throughout the race. Price: From €33

Until 3 October. As a tribute to the people who devote their lives to wine, Bodegas Verum in Tomelloso (Ciudad Real) hosts the exhibition Los Oficios del Vino (The Trades of Wine) with a retrospective of 44 photographs exhibited between 2014-2020 from the national photography competition sponsored by the winery. The collection of photographs are on display at the Posada de los Portales in Tomelloso.

4 and 7 October. A new edition of the Salón de los Grandes Blancos de España (4th) and of the DOP Jumilla tasting returns to the Intercontinental Hotel in Madrid (Paseo de la Castellana, 49). The event takes place during the day, although access will be restricted to one-and-a-half-hour periods between 12:00-15:00 and 17:00-21:00.

7 October. Restaurant Lera in Castroverde de Campos (Zamora) will prepare a special menu that will be paired with historic vintages of Dehesa de los Canónigos in Ribera del Duero. The event will be held at the winery in Pesquera de Duero, which is open for visits before the dinner. Price of the menu: €120 More information and reservations on +34 666 500736

7, 13, 14, 21, 27 and 28 October. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega 27) hosts six face-to-face activities this month: Morenillo: the jewel of Terra Alta (7th, €40), directed by Luis Vida; Bierzo and its Crus: Parajes de Valtuille de Abajo (13th, €40) directed by Mª Antonia Fernández-Daza; Godello: the power of evolution (14th, €40), directed by Bartolomé Sánchez; a vertical tasting of Albariño de Fefiñanes III Año (21st, €35), directed by Juan Gil de Araujo; Sainte-Croix-du-Mont: the Caprices of Botrytis (27th, €45) and Chianti Classico and its Comuni: Gaiole in Chianti (28th, €45). All tastings are at 19:00 and there are discounts for members. Reservations by phone 914 293 477

7, 14 and 21 October. Madrid wine shop Lavinia presents this month three online tastings via Zoom. The first one will be about Ribera del Duero and the diversity of its wines, from classics such as Viña Pedrosa or Viña Sastre to the more modern side, epitomised by producers such as Quinta Milú, Dominio del Pidio or Antídoto, or the duality of Torremilanos, co-founder of the DO and farming biodinamically. On the 14th there will be a tasting of aromas, while on the 21st the star of the show will be Champagne. The tasting pack includes four bottles of wine, bread snacks and supporting materials. Places must be reserved at least six days in advance. Time: 19:00-20:30 Prices: €95, €65 and €125 respectively.

7 and 21 October. Wine Alphabet wine training centre resumes its wine tastings with two online events in English focusing on Burgundy (day 7) and Rhone (day 21). In addition to the Zoom tastings, Nika Shevela has selected an optional pack of four wines from the Caskadia store portfolio in Barcelona. Time: 19:30 - 21:00 Price: €15 

7 and 21 October. With the return of on-site tastings at Enoteca Barolo in Madrid, Juancho Asenjo is back with his session on Barolo and this time with two vintages; 2016 and 2017, and the following wines: Trediberri Rocche dell'Annunziata 2017 (La Morra), Giuseppe Rinaldi Brunate 2016 and 2017 (Barolo), Brovia Rocche di Castiglione 2016 (Castiglione Falletto), Schiavenza Prapó 2016 and Giovanni Rosso Cerretta 2017, both from Serralunga. On the 21st, Juanma Ruiz Casado will lead a tasting on Priorat with the following wines: Clos Erasmus 2017, Les Manyes Terroir Al Limit 2013, Finca Dofí 2015 Álvaro Palacios, Aguilera Trio Infernal 2008 and Nit de Nin 2016. Nin Ortiz family. Time: 20:30 Price: 60 and 70 € respectively. Reservations by phone: +34 91 745 1927

9 and 10 October. The Sitges Harvest Festival has a longstanding tradition in this Catalan town and includes a traditional wine pressing, a grape treading competition and a few more activities yet to be confirmed. Times and prices will be announced in the link above.

10 and 16 October. As part of the LoVisual festival in Logroño, Villota hosts two tastings under the centuries-old holm oak tree in the meander of the Ebro in Laserna (Rioja Alavesa) where the family's wines are born. Time: 11:00 - 14:20 Price: €20 / €30 (with shuttle to and from Logroño)

14 -24 October. The Passeig de Gourmets gastronomic festival in Barcelona returns with a route of dishes, tasting menus, dinners and gourmet experiences at popular prices and for all audiences with the presence of wines from the D.O. Cava and Juvé & Camps.

18 October. The Alicante Verema Experience will take place today at the Alicante Golf Hotel with the presence of around 20 wineries and Regulatory Boards. Opening hours: 12:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 21:00. Price: €10 online and €15 at the gate.

18 - 19 October. The second edition of Duero International Wine Fest is held in Valladolid with the presence of some of the most prominent voices in the world of wine who will be focusing their attention on the Duero river basin. There will be round tables such as the one moderated by our editor, Amaya Cervera, with the participation of Almudena Alberca MW; Telmo Rodríguez, Gonzalo Iturriaga (Tempos Vega Sicilia) and Alberto García (Mauro) talking about "the differences in soil and its organoleptic potential of the wines of Castilla y León", as well as round tables and various tastings. To see the full programme and how to register, click on the link above.

18-24 October. The Catalan Wine Week includes more than 50 activities that will take place all over Catalonia, such as a tasting of the DO Pla de Bages at La Pedrera in Barcelona, walks through the vineyards, on-site and online tastings and visits to wineries. Check the full programme in the link above.

19 October. The wine bar La Vinya del Senyor in Barcelona's central Santa María del Mar square presents Sommelier Invitado, with the presence of renowned sommeliers from around the country who will be offering their selection of bottles to taste by the glass. Today is the turn of Armando Guerra, from La Taberna Der Guerrita in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Time: 17:00 - 22:00 Price: varies according to the wine you drink. There is no charge for attending the session, which is open to everyone.

23-24 October. This year the Moriles Expo Wine tasting moves to each of the eight participating bodegas and wineries where there will be wine and food stands. Time: 13:00- 18:00 Access is free with prior registration.

25 October. Around 30 producers of organic Champagne will be present at Hotel María Cristina iin San Sebastián. Names such Bourgeois Diaz, Georges Laval, De Sousa, David Léclapart, Val Frison or Vouette e Sorbée will be pouring their wines in two shifts: 10:00 -14:00 and 15:00 - 19:00. Price: €40.72

25 October. The Peñín Guide resumes its on-site activities and presents the Bierzo Wine Show in Bilbao with a selection of wines from the area. Venue: Gran Hotel Domine Time: 16:00 - 21:00

27 October. The store Pura Cepa in Murcia (Plaza Cristo del Rescate, 8) has invited Jorge Piernas to talk about his wines, made from Monastrell in vineyards at 800 metres elevation at 60 km from the Mediterranean in southeast Spain. The tasting-dinner costs €36. Time: 21:00

28 October. As every Thursday at the end of the month, restaurant Entrevins in Valencia (La Paz, 7) presents a Champagne tasting. On this occasion there will be four Chardonnays from Grand Cru plots. Each Champagne will be paired with a dish. Time: 20:30 - 22:30 Precio 50€. Book your spot via email: v.entrevins@entrevins.es 

28 October. This month, Artean Wines education centre in Bilbao hosts a presentation and tasting of Galician minority varieties led by Jesús María Ormazabal, advisor at wine merchant Ardo and lecturer at Cebanc in San Sebastián, with a tasting of seven wines. Place: Espacio Pangea in Plaza Indautxu. Time: 18:30 - 20:30 Price: €65

28 October - 1 November. Gastronomy, wine and culture come together in Vinavejer 2021, a five-day event that will take place in Vejer de la Frontera (Cádiz) and will begin with the presentation of the book La Botella 17 by Ferran Centelles, head of content for Bullipedia and correspondent in Spain for JancisRobinson.com. There will also be presentations on wine tourism, albariza wines, communication, a photography exhibition with tasting at Bodegas Luis Pérez, theatre, tastings in Vejer restaurants with producers such as Forlong, Primitivo Collantes, Yuste, Vinifícate, 4Ojos, Gallardo, Tesalia, Vinos de Albarizas, Etú, Sancha Pérez, González Byass and Barbadillo as well as a charity tasting competition in pairs. Registration is free for the presentations. For the rest of the activities, check the link.

29 October - 1 November. The town of Gandesa, in Catalonia's Terra Alta, celebrates its 34th 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 Modernist 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 €8