Wine tastings in September 2019

While many wineries are busy picking grapes, the events agenda in September goes back to pre-summer mode with countless harvest festivals like those in Jerez, Rioja Alavesa and Ribera del Duero among many others throughout the country. Tastings also return to the usual venues but there are a bunch of leisurely events mixing music and wine such as Evento Sarmiento in Bierzo or Costeira Soneira in Galicia.

31 August - 15 September. Jerez’s Harvest Festival or Fiesta de la Vendimia is dedicated to the nearby town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda and starts with the foot-treading of the grapes at the Reducto in the town’s cathedral (20:00). Throughout the first half of the month there will be numerous wine-related activities including an exhibition and tastings at the Santo Domingo Cloisters, guided tours of cooper houses like Antonio Páez Lobato and Huberto Domecq, a guided tour of the city’s wine heritage, a showroom and tastings of Sherry wines, a children’s venencia contest and tastings at some of the region’s leading wineries.

5-8 September. The Mostra del Vi de l’Empordà, which takes place in Figueres (Girona), includes guided tours, children’s workshops, themed and guided tastings, exhibitions, concerts and the chance to taste the wines of producers such as Arché Pagès, Espelt Viticultors, La Vinyeta, Pere Guardiola, Martí Fabra, Perelada or Vinyes dels Aspres, among others. Time: Thursday and Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday.

7 September. Producers in Ábalos, La Rioja (Abeica, Alonso González, Eduardo Garrido, Fernández Eguiluz, Viña Eguiluz, Puelles, Real Divisa, Ruiz del Portal, Solabal y Solana de Ramírez) present the 22nd Open Door Day with cultural tours, grape stomping in an ancient outdoor press, a presentation about the area’s traditional rock-excavated presses  led by historian Salvador Velilla, tastings, music, tourist train and lunch. Time: From 11:00

7 September. The 21st Harvest & Wine Festival in Poboleda takes place in this Catalan town with a recreation of a harvest as it was done in the old days, with mules and transport carts, followed by a breakfast fro the whole community. From 11:00 the village wineries open their doors to visitors and there will also be street tastings of wines from the DOQ Priorat, an artisan market and castellers (human towers).

7, 14 and 22 September. The Verema Solidaria is an initiative born in 2016 to fight against poverty and social exclusion in Catalonia launched by grape grower Rubén Parera (Celler Parera) after his experiences working with immigrants who had no access to the most basic resources. Since then, various fundraising activities are held. This month’s are three charity harvests at Herència Altés in Terra Alta (7th), at Scala Dei on Priorat (14th) and at Xic's Cal Borrech in Lleida (22nd). The cost of each activity is €38.

8 and 15 September. As part of its Mountain Wine & Music 2019, Bentomiz in Sayalonga (Málaga) hosts two gourmet dinners with wine and jazz (8th) and flamenco (15th). Time: From 19:00 Concert starts at 22:30 Price: €70 Bookings on +34 658 845 286

9 September. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) hosts the first-ever global Wine Education Week with non-stop tastings across 24 countries starting in Auckland and ending in California. In Spain, The Wine Studio, led by Elisa Errea, will be in Lavinia in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) to discuss wine, sake and food along with sake expert Pablo Alomar. Wines will be paired with dishes prepared by the restaurant in Lavinia. The wines to be tasted are: Ribeiro Ramón Do Casar Treixadura 2018, Dr. Loosen, Riesling Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett, 2017, Bruno Rocca, Barbaresco, 2015, Lustau, Cream Solera East India and Verdling Dulce Ossian 2015. Time: 18:00-20:00 Price: €65

9-13 September. For their part, Vintage Class academy, directed by Jeni Wilson, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the WSET with a fun and didactic blind tasting of eight wines in which participants have to relate each wine with its variety, area and corresponding tasting note. There will be a prize for the best student. The tastings will take place in Valladolid (9th, Vialab Social Working), Aranda de Duero (12th, La Pícara) and Haro (13th, Gómez Cruzado). Time: 20:00-22:00 Price: 25 € Send an email to jeni@vinclass.com to book a place.

9 and 19 September. Following on with their Summer Experiences, Bodegas Valenciso in Ollauri (La Rioja) holds two activities this month. On the first (9th), sommelier Esther Ramos presents a tasting of wines from four appellations in different parts of the Canary Islands. On the 19th, wine expert Juancho Asenjo will host a tasting of wines from South Africa. Both activities will take place at the hotel Husa Gran Vía in Logroño. Time: 19:00 Price: €25 Booking is required on +34 941 304 724

10-12 September. Aula Vivanco of University of La Rioja presents a summer course called Beber y Convivir. Vino, ritual y sociedad (Drinking and Socialising. Wine, ritual and society) whose aim is to study the social role of this drink from the ancient empires (Ugarit, Assyria, Egypt, Greece, Rome...) to the present day. The course is open to anyone interested in wine culture. Check the programme in the link. Location: Classrooms of the University of La Rioja (Sala de Grados del Edificio Quintiliano), and in the afternoons at the Vivanco Wine Museum and in the countryside. Price: €30 (Registration until 6 September).

12-13 September. The town of Montemayor (Córdoba) prepares Europe's largest pasera where visitors will discover the process of drying the Pedro Ximénez grapes in the sun and the artisan production of wine. Additionally, there will be workshops for adults and children, music, talks and tastings led by the Regulatory Body of Montilla-Moriles. Location: Montemayor Trade Center.

13 September. As part of the activities of El Rioja y Los 5 Sentidos there will be a conversation around wine with singer Santiago Auserón, aka Juan Perro, at Bodegas Señorío de San Vicente in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, where three wines will be tasted. Time: 20:30 Price: €10 (€13 includes bus ticket from Logroño).

13 September. Wine store Sorbo in Ponferrada (Ancha, 19) hosts a tasting of grapes and wines made by grower Aurelio Feo who will bring grapes from his vineyards in Bierzo and wines made with different varieties. Time: 21:00. Price: €12. Send an email to sorbovino@gmail.com or call +34 650765644 for further information.

13-29 September. Institut del Cava continues this month with its activities in honour of the harvest which start on the 13th with a harvest under a full moon at Vilarnau, followed by nordic walking and farmers’ breakfast in the vineyard of Covides (14th), harvest on wheels at Juve y Camps (28th), gourmet dinner among vines at Giró Ribot (28th) and “Most Experience” at Freixenet (29th). Prices vary depending on the activity.

14 September. The first edition of Festival Rayos Uva in Barcelona (Teatro Victoria, Av. Paral.lel 67) combines music and wine with live music by bands Momus, Hidrogenesse, Kokoshca, Ofrenda Floral, The Irrepressibles and Patience and some of the wines made by Domènech Vidal in Penedès. Time: 18:00 Precio: From €30

14 September. The Empordà cellar Espelt Viticultors hosts an old-fashioned harvest at its vineyards in Vilajuïga cutting grape bunches by hand and stomping them with the feet before enjoying a lunch al fresco with organic sausages, bread with tomato and the wines of the winery. Time: 10:00 Price: €20 adults / €10 children aged 4-12.

14 September. In Ollauri, the 23rd edition of Mercado de la Vendimia hosts artisans, small producers, an oil mill, organic products and a tasting of wines and pinchos from Ollauri, as well as a photographic exhibition, live music and a guided tour around this pretty Rioja village and its vineyards. At 15:00 there will be paella for anyone who signs up for it previously. Time: from 11:00 Price: €8 (glass + 3 wines + 3 pinchos).

14 September. Baños de Ebro, a village on the banks of the river in Rioja Alavesa, hosts a tasting of village wines and quality pintxos after the awards ceremony of the 26th DOCa Rioja Wine Competition Harvest 2019. Location: Baños de Ebro Main Square. Time: 19:30-21:30

14 and 21 September. For those who want to experience what’s like to harvest grapes, Familia Torres offers a Day of Harvest picking grapes at the Mas La Plana vineyard in Penedès to end with an aperitif and tasting of two Penedès wines at restaurant El Celleret. The winery also hosts 'From the vine to the glass’, a treasure hunt to identify the different grape varieties followed by a tasting of these grapes as berries and as wine and lunch at the winery’s restaurant. Both activities finish with a tour of the bodega. Price: €38 and €58 respectively. Bookings on +34 938 17 73 30 or e-mail reservas@torres.es

15 September. Rioja Alavesa hosts its 26th Fiesta de la Vendimia in the village of Baños de Ebro with wine tastings, music, pelota matches, children’s activities and a popular lunch for everyone who wants to join. Time: From 11:00 Price: €7/glass + 5 wines

16 September - 10 October. The Chemistry School at the Complutense University in Madrid (UCM) hosts a beginners' course on winemaking and wine tasting, which will be held over four weeks (16:30 to 19:30). The course is open to wine aficionados. As well as the theory lessons, students will visit bodegas El Regajal and Las Moradas de San Martín as well as Finca El Encín, in Alcalá de Henares, a centre housing the largest collection of grape varieties in Spain. There will also be a lecture led by Carlos González (Guía Peñín) who will discuss the evolution of wine trends in Spain. Tastings will be held in partnership with Dominio de la Vega and Rioja Alta. Price: €175

19 September. Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) presents a tasting of cheese from several European countries paired with wine: Bockshornkleekase (Austria) with Niepoort Porto Crusted; Felsen-Taler (Austria) with Champagne Louis Dousset Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru; Dziugas 36 Months (Lithuania) with Arenas de Santyuste 2018; Vieux Brugge (Belgium) with Filipa Pato Nossa Calcário Bical 2017, Chiriboga (Austria) with Gutiérrez Colosía Oloroso and Gjetost with Selbach Oster Zeltinger Scholossberg Riesling Auslese 2017. The tasting will be led by Salvador Valero. Price: €45 Time: 20:30

19 September. As part of the activities to celebrate their 25th anniversary, restaurant La Vieja Bodega in Casalarreina (La Rioja) has invited Jordi Melendo, Champagne ambassador in Spain, to taste and enjoy a bunch of bottles of bubbly from this French region. The tasting will be followed by a dinner in which five additional champagnes will be served. Time: 20:30 Price: €70 Bookings on +34 941 324 254

20-21 September. Evento Sarmiento is a weekend to enjoy wine and indie music in Bierzo. The party commences on the 20th with a surprise concert followed by grape harvesting and foot-treading in Finca Valdetruchas, fun irreverent tastings with Santi Rivas (Colectivo Decantado), a lunch and concert, monologues and a final fiesta. Among the bodegas taking part are Casar de Burbia, Luna Beberide, Merayo, Peique, Perez Caramés, Tenoira Gayoso, Valtuille, Tilenus, Godelia, Vinos San Esteban and Akilia as well as Bodegas Estévez from Jerez and La Rioja Alta and Gramona. A bus service to the main towns in Bierzo has been arranged.

20-24 September. The Mostra de Vins y Caves de Catalunya in Barcelona changes location and moves to the revamped Sant Antoni Market. There will be around 500 different Catalan wines to taste paired with products from the market stalls and the possibility of buying the wines on show. The Mostra coincides with the La Mercè festivities in Barcelona.

24 September. Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) presents a tasting of wines from Zamora, a historical region that is nevertheless in its infancy in terms of quality. Attendants will be able to try selections from producers such as Alvar de Dios, Kiko Calvo, Esteban Celemín, Beatriz Herranz, as well as up-and-coming names like Martin Krachler or Galindo San Millán. Time: 19:00 Price: €35 (members €20).

27 September. Wine store El Buen Gusto Vinos in Valladolid (Manuel Silvela, 2) has invited Bequer Prieto, technical director at Bodegas Zifar (Ribera del Duero) and Pago de Cirsus (Navarra) to present the wines that he makes in these two regions as well as those of his personal project, called Sabinares, in Arlanza, his birth place. These wines will be tasted: Pago de Cirsus Rosé Gran Reserva 2018, Pago Cirsus Cuvée Especial 2015, Caballero Zifar 2015, Pago de las Sabinas 2016, Sabinares Blanco de Guarda 2014 and Sabinares El Temido 2014. Time: 20:00 Price: €25 Bookings on +34 983 377 199

27-28 September. The third edition of Ribera del Duero's Great Harvest Festival takes place in Aranda de Duero with the traditional grape treading and tasting of the first must, stands with local wines and music with live performances of artists like Fetén Fetén, Mago de Oz, Nacha Pop and Luar na Lubre. Actress and comedian Silvia Abril will present the event.

27-29 September. The Vintage group of wineries presents the Vintae Wild Wine West, a three-day party held every year in San Vicente de la Sonsierra to celebrate wine and friendship in the midst of the harvest in La Rioja. Attendees will disguise themselves as cowboys, cherokees, saloon dancers or any other western character while enjoying concerts, meals and tapas and wine routes through the town. Price: 140 €.

28 September. Pazo de Toubes in Cenlle will host Costeira Sonora with live concerts by artists such as Ángel Stanich, El Meister, Las Chillers, María Yfeu and Surma. There will be a bus service from Ourense and Ribadavia to get to the event. Time: 17:00 Price: €30 

28 September. Wine lovers staying in Málaga or surrounding villages might want to join Vináliti in their one-day trip to Bodegas Alvear in Montilla. The visit includes a tasting of five wines, lunch and a return bus ticket.  Time: 12:00 Return to Málaga around 6pm. Price €75 (€60 for members of Vináliti)

30 September. La Vinacoteca in Barcelona (Valencia, 595) presents a blind tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon with eight wines from different regions of the world. Time: 20:30 to 22:30. Price: €65

Do you know of any interesting wine events which are not on this list? Are you a restaurateur or retailer who organises tastings or wine events for the general public? Send us your calendar to yolanda@spanishwinelover.com