Wine tastings in September 2020

The harvest is by and large ahead of schedule and many areas of Spain are already immersed in grape picking. Unlike other years, the virus has disrupted the traditional grape harvest festivals - in Jerez, in particular, only the "grape treading" activity has been maintained - and cancelled events in other areas such as Montilla, Rioja Alavesa or various places across Catalonia. Many of the usual establishments that host tastings are not holding activities this month, pending the evolution of the pandemic, but we will update this agenda with any new initiatives that may arise.

September. The DO Ribera del Duero has launched Cita con Ribera, a series of interviews on Instagram (@RiberaDelDuero) to present the trajectories and projects of the bodegas which form part of the appellation. The series is broadcast weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:00.

5 September. Wine store Los Patios de Beatas in Málaga (Beatas, 43) presents a tasting of five types of grape varieties and of five wines that are produced with them. The varieties are Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pedro Ximénez, Syrah and Moscatel and the wines on the tasting are Viña Pedrosa (Hnos Pérez Pascuas), Enate Reserva, Voladeros (Victoria Ordóñez), Dominio de Valdepusa (Marqués de Griñón) and Pago de Arenas Moscatel. Further information and bookings on +34 952 210 350

5 September. The Villa-Lucía Wine Centre in Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa, hosts the second edition of the Spring Wine Fest "in the summer" with Rioja wines, pintxos, a workshop about patearan (a berry-based drink), music, visits to the museum as well as to bodegas such as El Fabulista or Casa Primicia and the Portico de Santa María de los Reyes in Laguardia and children's activities. Hours: 12:30 to 16:30 and 20:00 to 24:00 Price: €8 

5 September. Producer Hacienda Lopez de Haro in San Vicente de la Sonsierra (La Rioja) presents tardeo, an evening of live music outdoors, wine and food trucks. Anyone interested may also jump on the specially chartered bus from Logroño. Time: 19:00-23:00 Price: €18

5, 12 and 19 September. Familia Torres presents several plans to celebrate the harvest in their winery in Pacs del Penedès including a family harvest at their Mas La Plana vines followed by a traditional breakfast by the vineyard; De la cepa a la Copa (From the vine to the glass), a sensory experience on the  vineyard with a chance to taste different grape varieties and wines, a picnic and the harvest dinner with live music at El Celleret restaurant, surrounded by vineyards. Price: From €25. Bookings on +938 17 73 30 or via  e-mail reservas@torres.es

11 y 12 September. Bodegas Alvear in Montilla presents Montijazz, an activity combining jazz and the wines of the region with performances by Luis Casado Trío, Sergio de Lope Quinteto, The Jump Club and Carola Ortiz Quartet. Time: 21:00 Price: from €15

11-13 September. The DO Bizkaiko Txakolina, Bodegas Zabala and Doniene Gorrondona host the 'Mahasti Artean' ('Entre viñas') festival with activities such as sunset on the vineyards with wine and local food, txakoli and music under the stars, cinema and hiking routes on the vineyards in Bakio, among others.

12-13 September. Bodega Costeira encourages wine lovers to experience the harvest at their Pazo de Toubes estate trying different white grape varieties grown in their vineyards –Treixadura, Godello, Albariño and Loureira- followed by a tasting outdoors paired with a snack. Time: 11:00-14:00 Price: €30

15 September. The culinary space Kitxen in Bilbao (Heros, 11) aims to recover the Greek Symposium concept -a gathering to debate and have fun around a table with wine- and holds a tasting session to rediscover txakoli, its different styles and pairings. With sommelier Camilo C. Olaskoaga as host, the tasting will include five or six wines from Bizkaiko Txakolina paired with several snacks in a relaxed atmosphere. Time: 19:30-21:30 Price: €30  Bookings on +34 688660702

15 September. The Interprofesional del Vino de España (OIVE) and Plataforma Tecnológica del Vino (PTV) host a webinar called "Covid-19: changes in wine consumers and ways to face them" based on an international report published by The Wine Intelligence. Time: 11:00-12:30

16 September. The Unión Española de Catadores in Madrid (Lope de Vega, 27) has invited Alfredo Maestro, vigneron and self-taught winemaker, to present the wines he makes from Valtiendas to Cigales, Ávila and the south of Madrid. Time: 19:00 Price: €35

17-18 September. La Taberna der Guerrita in Sanlúcar de Barrameda concludes its summer tastings with Ramón Coalla, owner of several wine and deli stores in Asturias and soon in Madrid, who will present a tasting of Bordeaux wines (17th) and Víctor Urrutia of Cvne (18th). Time: 20:00 Price per tasting: €60 Further information on info@lasacristia.es

18, 19, 25 and 26 September. Producer Jean Leon offers live music next to the vineyard from the wine bar of their bodega in Torrelavit (Penedès) with the following bands: Nil Colomer, DJ Delapierre, Eva i Barbarito, Set de Rumba, Alba Villanova, Trifasicambgel and Escarteen Sisters. Time: 19:00 Free entrance

19 September. Enoteca Barolo in Madrid (Príncipe de Vergara, 211) presents an online tasting of fino and manzanilla with the following wines: Fino Capataz by Bodegas Alvear, Montilla-Moriles; Manzanilla Gabriela by Bodegas Juan Piñero in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Fino Colosía by Bodegas Gutiérrez Colosía in El Puerto de Santa María. The tasting will be conducted by Juanma Ruiz Casado. Price: €55 Time: 20:30

19 September. José Gil, a young producer in San Vicente de la Sonsierra (Rioja), presents Viñas + Vinos, a pre-harvest day in which he will guide participants through his vineyards and the medieval castle that crowns the village. Afterwards, visitors will be able to savour some tapas and taste José Gil's wines, including the 2019 vintage, which is not yet on the market. Time: 11:00 Price: €60 Further information and bookings on winedatesjg@gmail.com

Until 20 September. Institut del Cava presents a few activities in honour of the harvest which start on September 5th with yoga and lunch on the vineyard at Alta Alella, followed by a harvest day at Vilarnau (6th), a tasting of varieties and lunch at the Juve y Camps vineyards (día 12), harvesting at Segura Viudas (12th), a walk among vines during sunset at Sumarroca (18th), cheese and wine pairing at Pagès Entrena (19th), harvest dinner at the bodega of Agustí Torelló Mata (19th) and a tasting of must from this year’s vintage followed by brunch at Giró del Gorner (20th). Prices vary depending on the activity.

22 September and 3 October. Wine learning centre Artean Wines in Bilbao presents a session about Jura wines, an activity that was postponed due to the pandemic.  With Ricardo Sanchoyarto leading the course, any intrerested wine lovers should apply before September 15th. Location: Espacio Pangea in Plaza Indautxu, Bilbao. Time: 19:30-21:00 Price: €80 (includes a dossier and eight wines). On October 3rd, Artean Wines organizes an introductory sherry wines course, certified by the Regulatory Body. Time: 10:30-13:30 Price: €35 Inscriptions for both activities by email: info@arteanwines.com

24 September. Wine store Lavinia in Madrid hosts an online tasting via Zoom of classic Spanish whites with varieties such as Albariño, Godello, Verdejo and Viura. Bookings on laviniaempresas@lavinia.com. Time: 19:00-20:30

28 September. The Sommelier Association of Navarra hosts a trip to Bodegas Juan Carlos Sancha in Baños de Río Tobía (La Rioja) with a tour of the vineyards and bodega followed by a tasting and lunch. Time: 09:30-19:30 Price:  €40 (members €25). Bookings on actividades@sumilleresdenavarra.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 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