Wine tastings in September 2016

While many wineries are busy picking grapes, the events agenda in September goes back to pre-summer mode with countless Harvest Fiestas like those in Jerez and Rioja Alavesa, among many others throughout the country. Tastings also return to the usual venues but there’s an extra addition this month —the wineries in Haro’s legendary Barrio de la Estación open their doors to hold a joint event for the second consecutive year with tastings and tours.

1-18 September. Jerez’s Harvest Festival or Fiesta de la Vendimia includes a bunch of wine -related activities such as the photo exhibition “Criaderas y Soleras” in Tabanco El Pasaje and “Brindo Por Jerez” with wine illustrations, a guided tour of local vineyards on off-road vehicles and an open-door day in Bodegas Luis Pérez.

2 September. The Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture in Briones (La Rioja) hosts the 5th Poetry & Wine National Day with the presence of Antonio Carvajal, winner of the 2012 Poetry National Award; Sara Pujol, investigator of female lyrical voices and Enrique Cabezón, a local multidisciplinary artist. Entrance is free but confirmation is required on  +34 941 322 305. Time: 19:30

2-3 September. The summer tasting programme comes to an end at Taberna der Guerrita in Sanlúcar (Rubiños, 43) with three interesting tastings for lovers of Sherry Triangle wines. On September 2 sherry & food ambassador Pepe Ferrer will pair sherries and tin food (20:30, €40); the following day winemaker Montse Molina from Barbadillo will talk about the premium wines of this renowned Sanlúcar producer (12:30, €30). The final event at der Guerrita this summer will be a surprise called “Wine War - Magnums and Decibels” (20:30, €30). Bookings on +34 697 826096 or on the Taberna der Guerrita website.

2-17 September. The association of producers Institut del Cava continues with their activities to celebrate the harvest which start on September 2 with a sensorial pairing in the vineyards of producer Gramona (20:00) plus a paired dinner and vineyard tour at Vins El Cep (19:00). Check the full programme on this link. Prices vary depending on the activity. 

3 September. Navarra producer Bodegas Ochoa hosts its big day with activities such as a tasting of Tempranillo and Moscatel wines and grapes, a workshop where punters will learn how corks are made and guided tours of the winery. There will be music and good atmosphere throughout the day with two food trucks serving savory snacks and crepes. Hours: 11:00-17:00. Address: Miranda de Arga 35, Olite. Tickets cost €5 per person and include a tour of the winery plus a tasting of two wines and a complimentary glass.

3, 15 and 30 September. Following on with their Summer Experiences, Bodegas Valenciso in Ollauri (La Rioja) holds several activities this month. The first coincides with the Festival Rioja y los 5 Sentidos and includes live music with Eva Fernández Group (Saturday 3 at 12:00 and 20:00). There are two really interesting tastings: one about Burgundy with Paco Berciano (Thursday 15, 19:00) and another one led by Antonio Remesal about Bordeaux (Friday 30, 19:00). Price: €15 Booking is required on +34 941 304 724 

8 September. To mark its 100th tasting, restaurant Los Cabezudos in Zaragoza has invite winemakers Jesús and Jorge Navascués, Carlos Valero, Fernando Mora and Manu Jimenez to present two wines of their choice to pair with the dishes prepared by the restaurant. Some of the wines that will be tasted are: Frontonio Supersónico 2015, Sota de Copas Garnacha Sexy, Champagne Heri Abelé and a yet unconfirmed Rioja wine from the 1960s or 1970s. Price: €65

8-11 September. The Mostra del vi de l’Empordà (Empordà Wine Festival), which takes place in Figueres (Girona), includes several wine-related activities for children such as a wine aromas workshop for families led by sommelier Laura Masramon as well as wine cocktail workshops, live cooking shows, music and guided tours. Opening hours: Evenings only on Thursday and Friday and all day during the weekend.

9 September. Wine merchant A la volé has brought Mosel producer Daniel Vollenweider to Segovia, northwest of Madrid, where he will lead a tasting of his wines paired with the six-course menu prepared by the chef at restaurant Venta Magullo. The wines that will be tasted are: Felsenfest Riesling 2015, Wolfer Riesling 2012, Goldgrube Riesling 2013, Wolfer Goldgrube Kabinett 2014 and Wolfer Goldgrube Spatlese 2007. Time: 21:00 Price: €50

12 September. Wine merchant Alma Vinos Únicos, managed by Paco Berciano, is 28 years old and to celebrate it they have invited renowned winemaker Raúl Pérez to lead a tasting of his most representative wines. The tasting promises to be interesting enough to travel to Burgos (López Bravo, 5, Nave 6, Polígono de Villalonquéjar). Time: 19:30 Price: €40  (€30 for member of LagarClub)

14 September. One of the activities in Lavinia (Ortega y Gasset, 16) this month is the presentation of the wines of Conde de los Andes, from Rioja, with a chance to taste historical vintages and hear the explanations from winemaker Chema Ryan. The wines that have been brought from the impressive cellar that Conde de los Andes has in the village of Ollauri are Conde de los Andes Semidulce 1964, Conde de los Andes Blanco 1983, Conde de los Andes Tinto 1970 and Conde de los Andes Tinto 2001. Time: 19:00  Price: €10

15 September. Restaurant and wine shop Los Patios de Beatas in Málaga (Beatas, 43) has organized a tasting of Ribera del Duero wines with the following selections: PSI de Pingus, Pago de Carraovejas Crianza, Dehesa de los Canónigos Crianza, Pago de los Capellanes Crianza and Dominio de Atauta. Time: 21:30 Price: €25 Bookings on +34 952 210 350

16 September. The world celebrates Grenache Day today with activities for fans of this Mediterranean variety. There are a few activities in Spain that we are aware of: Music Night at Bodegas Alto Alberche in Navaluenga (Ávila), a tasting of Garnacha wines, including some from natural producer Vinos Ambiz, paired with tapas at Solo de Uva restaurant in Madrid, the DO Campo de Borja's  Harvest Festival in Ainzón, a tasting of international Garnachas at the restaurant of producer Clos Figueras in Gratallops (Tarragona) and a tasting of Garnacha wines paired with fresh tapas at Mercado de Santa Caterina in Barcelona. Check the list of activities on the link above. 

16 September. Bodegas Bentomiz in the Axarquía mountains in Málaga organizes its very own Harvest Festival with flamenco guitarist Daniel Casares playing live and the chance to try the first Moscatel from the 2016 vintage. The concert will be followed by an al fresco dinner paired with Bentomiz wines. Time: 18:30 Price: €50 Bookings on: +34 951 386 706

17 September. For the second year, producers in Barrio de la Estación in Haro (La Rioja) have joined forces to hold a joint festival with activities for both trade professionals and aficionados. Friday is set aside for professionals and Saturday 17 is for wine lovers. All the wineries in Barrio de la Estación (La Rioja Alta, Muga, López de Heredia, Bodegas Bilbaínas, Gómez Cruzado, Roda and Cvne) will open their doors to aficionados, who will have a chance to taste wines and tapas and listen to music. Tickets cost €41.20 and include a tasting of 14 wines and seven tapas as well as various activities in the wineries. They can be purchased on the festival's website as well as tickets for the coaches that will drive participants from Madrid, Bilbao, Vitoria, San Sebastián and Pamplona. Time: 11:00 - 18:30

18 September. Rioja Alavesa holds its 23rd Harvest Fiesta in the village of Samaniego with wine tastings, music, children’s activities and a popular lunch for everyone who wants to join. Time: 11:00 Price: €6 /glass + 6 wines.

19 September. Sommelier Carlos Persini will lead a tasting at wine store Vinacoteca in Barcelona (Carrer València, 595) to discover the wines from Nuits-St-Georges in Burgundy and find out more about the different wines from this area where Pinot Noir is dominant. These are the wines on show: Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru La Perrière Blanc 2011, Arnoux-Lachaux Nuits-Saint-Georges 2011, J.J. Confuron Nuits-St.-Georges Les Chaboeufs 2011, David Duband Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Aux Thorey 2012, Joseph Drouhin Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Vaucrains 2013, Lucien Le Moine Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru Les Vaucrains 2013 and Domaine Georges Noëllat Nuits-Saint-Georges  Aux Cras Premier Cru. Time: 20:30 to 22:30. Price: €50

22 September. If Sauternes is a magical name in itself, when it comes to Premier Cru Classé elegance increases exponentially. Juancho Asenjo will be in charge of leading this vertical tasting at Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) spanning the 2001 to the 2013 vintages with wines such as Château Climens 2013, Tourblance 2006, Coutet 2007, Suduiraut 2002, Rieussec 1999, Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2005, Guiraud 2001 and Clos Peyraguey 2012. Price: €50 Time: 20:30 

22 September. The Spanish Union of Tasters in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) has organized a very special tasting of Toro Albalá Don PX (DO Montilla-Moriles) with iconic vintages of this great yet little known wine made with Pedro Ximénez: 1986 Gran Reserva, 1973 Viejas Cosechas, 1965 Selección, 1962 Selección, 1955 Convento Selección, 1949 Selección, 1931 Convento Selección and 1929 Convento Selección. The tasting will be led by winemaker Eu Cortés and marketing manager Pilar Bujalance. Time: 19:00 Price: €45 (€30 for members) Further information on +34 91 429 3477

22-25 September. The Mostra de Vins y Caves (Wine & Cava Festival) returns to  Barcelona coinciding with la Mercè Festival and will be located in Passeig de Lluís Companys, in the Arc de Triomf district. Over 60 Catalan producers will have a stand at the festival, such as Abadal, Alta Alella, Castell del Remei, Celler de Capçanes, Celler Masroig, Coca i Fitó, Codorníu, Espelt, Jean Leon, Juve & Camps, Llopart, Marco Abella, Mont Marçal, Perelada, Raventós, Rovellats, Torelló and Torres, among others. The wines will be accompanied with local produce such as cheese, cured meats, etc and participants will have the chance to purchase all the products. Times: 22 September from 16:00 to 21:00 and from 23 to 25 September: 12:00 to 21:00 Price: five tickets: €6, 12 tickets: €13 and 22 tickets €20

23-24 September. Evento Sarmiento is a weekend full of wine and indie music held in the midst of harvest in Bierzo. The festival commences on Sept. 23 with the band Morgan playing live followed by a series of activities the following day such as harvest and stomping grapes at Finca Valdetruchas, fun tastings, lunch, a live concert and a final party. Participating producers include the Rocamadre group, Vintae, Casar de Turbia, Luna Beberide, Valtuille, Tilenus, Godelia, Dominio de Tares, Tenorio Gayoso, Merayo, Peique and Pérez Caramés. There is a bus service to and from the main Bierzo towns. Price: €105

24-25 September. The 50th Cariñena Wine Festival takes place this year with a tasting of wines from the region and the presence of Spanish writer Elvira Lindo as guest of honor plus live music, children’s activities and a Wine Train that will take participants from Zaragoza to Cariñena. 

26 September. Vintage wine bar in the Basque capital Vitoria-Gasteiz (Ramiro de Maeztu, 5) presents a tasting of white wines made from rare Spanish varieties. There will be wines made with Dona Branca, Marmajuelo, Moll or Picapoll among others. After the tasting there will be some nibbles to eat. Time: 20:00 Price: €40 Further information on +34 659 2428062

28 September. Espai Penedès in Barcelona (Muntaner, 21) has prepared a blind tasting of five different types of ham paired with six wines from Penedès. Winners will enjoy a one-day tour of this wine region in Catalonia. Time: 20:00 Price: €19

30 September. Wine merchant The Wine Place has organized a tasting of cool climate wines in which there will be the opportunity to taste two whites and two reds from New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Oregon. The tasting will take place in Denia (Alicante), in restaurant Hoyo 19, La Sella Golf Resort, Alquería de Ferrando s/n, Jesus Pobre. Time: 18:00 - 20:00 Price: €15

30 September. Wine store TomeVinos in Zaragoza (Palafox) has organized a tasting of Syrah wines made in various areas. The wines on the tasting are: Clunia Syrah 2013 (Burgos); Vallegarcia Syrah 2012 (Toledo); Atractylis 2013 (Calatayud), Soldier's Block Shiraz 2015 (Australia), Villa Grisa Calù Syrah 2015 (Sicily) and a surprise. Time: 20:30 Price: €10 Book your place on this phone number: +34 976 961 528

30 September. After the summer break, Madrid wine store La Mercería (Avda. Siglo XXI, 4 Boadilla del Monte) is back with a tasting of wines from Sierra de Gredos: El Marciano by Alfredo Maestro, Las Uvas de la Ira by Comando G, Toros de Guisando Syrah by Cristina Carrillo, Las Bacantes by Carlos Sánchez and Terrazas de Serapia by Oriol Illa. Time: 20:00 Price: €8 Bookings on +34 91 449 5006