Wine tastings in September 2023

The absence of rain and the extreme heat this summer have favoured an early harvest in most of Spain, to the point that many areas began to cut grapes on the earliest dates in their history, surpassing even those of last year. On the more leisurely side of wine, the traditional grape harvest festivals and tastings in the usual establishments are back.

1 September. The winery Territorio Luthier presents a live gig with El Sombrero del Abuelo on its terrace at Paraje La Rastrilla (Aranda de Duero). In addition to music, there will be wines by the glass by Territorio Luthier, tacos and the chance to visit the winery. Time: 20:30. Price: €20 More information on +34 644 707 782

1 September. The gardens of Hotel Palacio de Samaniego (Rioja Alavesa) are the setting for a new edition of Samaniego in Wine, where eight local producers - Alútiz, Amaren, Baigorri, Bello Berganzo, Heredad de Aduna, Ostatu, Pascual Larrieta and Remírez de Ganuza - will present their wines accompanied by snacks prepared by Bruno Coelho, chef of the Tierra y Vino restaurant, and music. Time: from 19:00 (Tickets sold out).

1, 2, 8, 9, 16 and 23 September. The Empordà Wine Route, in association with some wineries in the area, presents several activities for this month's weekends such as a family harvest with traditional presses at La Vinyeta in Mollet de Perelada (1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th), grape treading and must tasting at the Empordalia cooperative (2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd), old-fashioned grape harvest at Celler Espelt (9th), winegrowers for a day at the cooperative in Garriguella (9th) and a harvest festival at Brugarol winery (16th).

2 September. Producers Abeica, Alonso González, Eduardo Garrido, Fernández Eguiluz, Óbalo, Puelles, Real Divisa, Ruiz del Portal, Solabal and Solana de Ramírez present the 26th Open Cellar Door Day in Ábalos, La Rioja. The women's association in the village has organised cultural visits, grape treading in a stone wine press, a lecture by Salvador Velilla about the wine presses excavated in the rock, tastings and musical entertainment, visits to wine cellars, a tourist train and snack stalls and food trucks. From 11:00

2 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 year's event is a grape harvest at dawn in Torelló in the town of Gelida (Barcelona). The grapes will be harvested at daybreak, to avoid the heat, and with a full moon, and there will also be a visit to the historic winery and a brunch with a tasting of three wines. The price of this activity is €100, which will be donated to charitable causes.

2-3 September. For anyone wishing to experience the grape harvest, Familia Torres offers three activities at the Mas La Plana estate in the Penedès. "From the vine to the glass" is a sensory experience to identify different varieties, including a tasting of these grapes, in both fruit and wine, followed by a meal in the winery's restaurant; The "harvest dinner", served in the garden of El Celleret restaurant, paired with wines and accompanied by live music, and the "family picnic and harvest", an experience to discover how a traditional harvest is done, followed by a picnic with bread with tomato, charcuterie and artisan local cheeses, wine and a visit to the winery. A shuttle bus will be available from Barcelona for the harvest dinner. Prices: from €45 More information and bookings at reservas@torres.es. 

2-17 September. Inits 75th edition, Jerez’s Harvest Festival or Fiesta de la Vendimia starts with the traditional foot-treading of the grapes at the town’s cathedral (20:00). Throughout the first half of the month there will be numerous wine-related activities including the Art/ON Art and Cooperage exhibition in the Cloisters of Santo Domingo, the Team Blind Tasting Challenge organised by the Jerez Wine Society, guided visits to the cooperages of Antonio Páez Lobato and Huberto Domecq, as well as to the Control Board, the "Viñas de los Vinos de Jerez" photography competition, an open day at bodegas in Jerez, conferences, equestrian galas, a children's venencia competition and master tastings by the appellation's bodegas at the Alcázar, among many other activities. Check the links for more information.

8-10 September. The fourth edition of Mahasti Artean Festival, which combines culture, gastronomy, sport and nature, comes to Enkarterri, a little known region - but with interesting attractions such as a 15th century ironworks still in operation or the largest private collection of Roll-Royce. The vineyards of Otxaran-Zalla and Galdames will be the venues for the Festival, with concerts, comedy, yoga sessions, cheese tasting, pintxos and, of course, txakoli. Price: €15 each activity. There is a free bus service from Bilbao.

9 September. One of the most popular activities of Festival Terrer Priorat is the Harvest & Wine Festival in Poboleda that 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).

9-10 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, bicycle trips along the vineyard, and tasting of Montilla-Moriles wines. Location: Montemayor Fair Center.

9 and 19 September. The Di-Vi Muntaner wine shop in Barcelona (Muntaner, 92) presents a tasting of six white wines: Vinomi Xarel.lo (Penedès), Il.lusio Garnacha Blanca (Terra Alta), Oriol dels Aspres Lledoner (Empordà), O'Casal Albariño (Rías Baixas), Ventura Godello (Valdeorras) and Llum d'Alba Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu and Viogner (Priorat). Time: 19:00 Price: €40. To book send a WhatsApp message to +34 677845661

9 and 30 September. The shop Vin La Vie Vinos in Madrid (Mercado Ibiza, local 8) hosts three activities this month: a tasting of four wines from the Provence based producer Château des Ferrages (9th, 19:00, €28), a free tasting of wines from Tintoralba, in Almansa (30th, 13:00) and a tasting led by the sommeliers Juan Pedro Baca and Pedro Martínez of MAN Wines from South Africa (30th, 19:00, €28).

10 September. Fundación Caja Rioja and CaixaBank organise a Popular Tasting in groups, which will feature the award-winning wines from the 33rd La Rioja Young Wine Competition and the 1st Village Wines Competition, held last June. Place: Paseo del Espolón in Logroño Time: 11:00-13:00. Inscription is free and is open to ten groups. Registrations until 7 September on the link above.

12, 14, 25, 26, 28 and 30 September. Lavinia wine store and bar in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16) presents a few activities of interest for wine lovers this month: a tasting of Mar de Frades (12th, 19:00, €25), a showroom featuring DO Vinos de Madrid (14th, 18:00, €25), a tasting of French red wines (25th, 19:00, €65), a vertical of Valenciso led by Luis Valentín and Carmen Enciso (26th, 19:00, €35), a tasting of Hispano-Suizas (28th, 19:00, €65) and a tasting of Champagne, Cava, Prosecco and other sparkling wines of the world (30th, 11:00, €65).

13 September. Coalla Madrid (Serrano, 203) has invited Xavier Monclús, ambassador of Moët & Chandon, to present a tasting of the brand's sparkling wines, including a selection of old vintages as well as Moët and Moët Gran Vintage, whites and rosés. The wines will be accompanied by gourmet treats from the shop. Time: 20:00 Price: €90.

16 September. Finca Villacreces in Ribera del Duero celebrates the arrival of the grape harvest with Villacreces Sunset, an evening to enjoy two glasses of wine, a tasting of Iberian cured meats and listen to live music by Wine Notes, a cover band that plays pop and rock band that will cover pop and rock songs in Spanish and English. Time: 18:30 - 21:00 Price: €25

17 September. Rioja Alavesa hosts its 28th Harvest Festival in the village of Navaridas with wine tastings, music, pelota matches, children’s activities and a popular lunch for everyone who wants to join. There will be a shuttle service from Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria. Time: From 11:00

17 September. The Taberna der Guerrita tasting season, a summer classic for wine lovers, comes to an end in Sanlúcar de Barrameda with a Harvest Party organised by Armando Guerra and his team. Time: 12:00 Price: €80 More information on +34 697 826 096

Until 17 September. Eleven wineries in the Penedès hold La Verema del Cava with a variety of activities such as concerts among the vineyards, must tastings, outdoor micro theatres, brunch and lunch among the vines, dinners under the stars, blind tastings, nordic walking along rural paths and children's activities. The participating wineries are Alta Alella, Carles Andreu, Cava Guilera, Cava Rovellats, Caves Bolet, Covides, Giró del Gorner, Giró Ribot, Oliver Viticultors y Vins el Cep. More information about opening times and prices in the link above.

19, 21 and 28 September. Sommelier Pilar Cruces hosts several activities this month with her Lust for Wine club. The first, on the 19th, is "Te leo un Vino" at Musica y Deportes (Paseo del Espolón, 16, Burgos; 19:30, €8). On the 21st, Pilar will lead a blind tasting of Spanish wines at Lust for Wine (Plaza Alonso Martínez, 7A, Office 57, Burgos, €45) while on the 28th she will take the same activity to La Pícara Gastroteca, in Aranda de Duero (€35). Times for the latter two activities are from 20:30 to 21:45. There are discounts and more activities for club members. More information and bookings on +34 638 66 14 08

20 September. Pilar Oltra, owner of Vinology in Madrid (Conde de Aranda, 11) presents a tasting alongside Santi Rivas, of Colectivo Decantado. Each of them will pick three wines blind so attendants can try and choose their favourite. Time: 19:00. Price tasting + tapas: €75 Bookings by email to hola@vinology.wine

20 y 28 September. Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) presents three tastings this month. The first will be a tasting of cheeses from different parts of Spain led by Guillermina Sánchez and paired with wine guided by Juanma Ruiz Casado (20th, €60), while on the 28th it is champagne's turn with the following references: Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Fleury Boléro 2009 Extra Brut, Pehu Simonet Fins Lieux nº1 2012 Brut Nature, Paul Déthune Extra Brut and Petraea IV Francis Boulard Brut Nature. Price: €65 Both tastings will take place at 20:30.

21 September. Vinos Alicante DOP presents Winecanting, a wine show at Muelle 5 in the port of Alicante (next to Panoramis), which seeks to prove that the Mediterranean is alive and is producing high quality and diverse wines. There will be 26 producers, including Colección de Toneles Centenarios, Enrique Mendoza, Pepe Mendoza Casa Agrícola, Bodegas Riko, Xaló, Sierra Norte and Pinoso, as well as food stalls. Time: 20:00 Price: €15 

21 and 28 September. Vila Viniteca presents several tastings this month. At its Barcelona venues there will be one on wines from Germany (Villarroel 209, 21st, €69) and another on wines from Burgundy with a selection of Villages, 1er Cru and Grand Cru (Agullers 7, 28th, €120). In Madrid there is a tasting of Barbadillo (Fernán González, 29, 21st, €39), a tasting of wines from the Loire (General Díaz Porlier 45, 21st, €69) and a tasting of still wines from Portugal (Fernán González, 29, 28th, €59). Time: 20:30

22 September. Wien store Vinicia in Lleida (Humbert Torres, 19) presents a tasting of Celler Casa Gran de Siurana directed by Magí Batllevell with wines from Priorat and Montsant. Time: 21:00 Price: €25 Bookings by email at club@vinicia.es

22-23 September. DO Ribera del Duero presents the 6th edition of Gran Fiesta de la Vendimia in Aranda de Duero, an event with live music, humour, food and wine in the stands of some of the bodegas in the town's Plaza Mayor.

27 September. Amontillado Wine Bar in Zaragoza (C. Hermanos García Mercadal, Local, 5) launches its tasting season with a paired dinner of five dishes and five wines by Enate: Chardonnay Fermentado en Barrica, Varietales, Merlot-Merlot as well as a red and a white. Time: 20:30 Price: €50 Bookings on +34 976 876 793

28 September. Corpinnat celebrates the second edition of the Nit de Verema with a cocktail dinner and the chance to taste more than 30 wines from the 11 wineries of the association. The event, held in the gardens of Llopart in Els Casots, near Barcelona, will start with a tribute to Xavier Gramona, one of the leading promoters of Corpinnat. Time: 20:30 - 23:30 Price: €80 

28 September. Wine restaurant Entrevins in Valencia (La Paz, 7) liven up the start of autumn with a tasting of champagnes (Ouverture de Frederic Savart, Fleur de craie de Bolieu, Grand Cru de Selosse Pajon and Blanc de Blanc Brut de Laherte) accompanied by tapas. Time: 20:30 Price: €50 Reservations by email v.entrevins@entrevins.es

29 September - 1 October. The Vintae group of wineries presents Vintae Wine Fest, a three-day party organised in San Vicente de la Sonsierra to celebrate wine and friendship in the height of the Rioja grape harvest. With the theme of the Roman Empire, attendees dress up as gladiators, scribes, legionaries, empresses, senators, Bacchus himself or any other character from ancient Rome while enjoying concerts, meals and tapas and wine tours of the town. Price: €190

30 September. The Clunia Theatre at the archaeological site of Peñalba de Castro (Burgos) will be the setting for the Catas Patrimoniales (Heritage Tastings), with the participation of Bodegas Áster, Bela, Condado de Haza and Dominio de Cair. During the show, there will be a tasting led by the wineries' winemakers with eight wines paired with tapas prepared by four chefs from Castilla y León: Víctor Martín (Trigo), Miguel Cobo (Cobo Estratos), David Mota (Cumpanis) and David Pérez (AF Pesquera). The ticket includes bus transfers from Aranda de Duero. More information on +34 693617707