Salud! Raise a glass at the Vinoteando Wine Fair in Alicante

Calling all wine fans. Enjoy the Vinoteando wine fair in Alicante from 20 to 30 November, it promises plenty of reasons to raise a glass.

The fair at the bullring will offer tastings and workshops. Enjoy food pairings with winemakers and sommeliers and live music in an atmosphere that suits both newcomers and seasoned sippers.

The fair will take place from Thursday to Sunday. Opening hours are 18:00 to 24:00 on Thursday and Friday, and 12:00 to 24:00 on Saturday and Sunday.

Free entry or skip the queue

Entry is free, although space is limited, so anyone who prefers a smoother arrival can choose the preferred ticket for €10. This guarantees access, lets you skip the queue and includes three tastings of food or drink.

For more information or to book your tickets, head to the website: vinoteandoalicante.com.

Twelve Spanish wineries will pour their best bottles throughout the fair. Visitors will find names such as:

Protos
Cune
Vicente Gandía
Bodegas Clos Cor VI
Bodegas FOS
Bodega Montecillo
D.V.N.E
Legaris
Luis XIV Fondillón
Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres
Paco & Lola
Bodegas Pinoso

Spain happens to be one of the world’s great wine nations, with vineyards stretching across the country and bottles to suit every taste. Whether you are new to wine or you can swirl a glass like a pro, Spanish wines mix bold character with easy charm. Time to lift the cork and have a look.

The grapes that make Spain shine

Spain has more than a million acres of vineyards, which gives the place quite a head start. What truly sets it apart, though, are the home-grown grapes that thrive in the heat, the wind, and the sheer attitude of the landscape.

Tempranillo: Often known as Spain’s noble grape. It stars in Rioja and Ribera del Duero and brings flavours of cherry, leather, and the slightest whiff of tobacco.
Garnacha: Sunny and full of fruit, the sort of red that makes you consider ordering tapas far earlier than planned.
Albariño: Fresh, zesty, and with a little coastal saltiness. Brilliant with seafood or anything you can eat while staring at the sea.
Cava grapes: Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada: These three form the backbone of Cava, Spain’s sparkling answer to Champagne.

Regions worth raising your glass to

Rioja: Spain’s best-known wine region, famous for reds aged in oak barrels that taste smooth and slightly smoky.
Ribera del Duero: Big, full-bodied Tempranillo wines from a dramatic river valley.
Rías Baixas: A coastal corner in the north-west where Albariño rules the vineyards. Crisp whites made for seafood.
Priorat: Small, rugged, and powerful. Wines from here often have deep, earthy notes that reflect the stony hillsides.

Quick quiz: Test your Spanish wine knowledge

Answers at the end!

Which grape is known as Spain’s “noble grape”?
A) Garnacha
B) Tempranillo
C) Albariño
D) Macabeo
Which region is famous for Albariño?
A) Rioja
B) Ribera del Duero
C) Rías Baixas
D) Priorat
True or false: Gran Reserva wines age at least 5 years.
Cava is most similar to which other sparkling wine?
A) Chianti
B) Champagne
C) Merlot
D) Sherry
Which grape is known for bright, fruity reds?
A) Tempranillo
B) Garnacha
C) Xarel·lo
D) Parellada

Fun facts to sound like a pro

Wine has been made in Spain for at least 3,000 years, and vines were likely growing there long before Cádiz became a trading post around 1100 BC.
Spain has the biggest vineyard area of any wine-producing country, covering about 961,000 hectares, which is around 13% of the world’s total.
Italy, France and Spain are the top three wine producers worldwide. In 2020, Spain produced around 40.7 million hectolitres of wine, and together these three countries made over half of all the wine in the world.
Castilla-La Mancha has the largest vineyard area in Spain and is also the biggest wine-growing region on the planet, with more than 700,000 hectares of vines.
Spain is home to about 600 grape varieties, though only around 20 are used to make most of its wines.