A four-week course
Viva Espana
Four weeks. The wines of Spain, from Atlantic coasts to the volcanic islands.
A four-week course
Viva Espana
Viva Espana is a four-week journey through the great wine regions of Spain. From the Atlantic-cooled Albarino of Galicia to the powerful Tempranillo of Ribera del Duero, the Garnacha of Rioja and Priorat, the Monastrell strongholds of the Mediterranean coast, and the volcanic vineyards of the Canary Islands. Throughout this course we will cover the full breadth of Spanish wine.
Across four evenings at our Richmond location, you'll taste the wines that have shaped Spain's reputation as one of the world's most diverse and exciting wine countries. Book all four sessions, or pick the regions you're most curious about.
The four sessions
A four-week journey through Spain, west to east
Session One
Atlantic Coast & Castilla y Leon
Galicia, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Bierzo
We begin on Spain's cool, wet, Atlantic-facing north-western coast: the Albarino of Rias Baixas, the Godello of Valdeorras, the perfumed Mencia of Bierzo. We then move inland to the high plateau of Castilla y Leon for the powerful Tempranillo of Ribera del Duero, the unique Tinta de Toro from old ungrafted vines, and the bright Verdejo of Rueda.
Session Two
Rioja & the Ebro Valley
Rioja DOCa, Navarra, Campo de Borja
The heart of Spanish wine. We work systematically through the Rioja ageing hierarchy, from Crianza through Reserva to Gran Reserva, contrasting the classical houses against the new generation of single-vineyard producers. We then range out to Aragon for old-vine Garnacha, and to Navarra for a cool-climate surprise.
Session Three
Catalonia & the Mediterranean
Cava, Corpinnat, Priorat, Montsant, Jumilla
The most stylistically diverse session. We begin with traditional method sparkling from the Corpinnat producers who broke away from the Cava DO, taste the Xarel-lo grape both sparkling and still, then move on to the old-vine Garnacha and Carinena of Priorat on its famous black slate soils. We close with the Monastrell heartland of southern Spain.
Session Four
Andalucia, the Centre & the Islands
Sherry, Montilla-Moriles, La Mancha, Canary Islands
The session built around Sherry, one of the world's great and most misunderstood wines. We taste the canonical Sherry flight from bone-dry Fino through Amontillado to a thirty-year-old Palo Cortado, finishing with the sweetest wine on earth. We then close with a volcanic white from the Canary Islands made from vines that have never been grafted.
Course details
About this course
Viva Espana is a four-week course covering the major wine regions of Spain. From the Atlantic Albarino of Galicia to the volcanic vineyards of the Canary Islands, each session explores a different corner of the country.
Sessions run weekly at our Richmond location from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. You can book all four evenings, or pick the sessions that interest you most.
No prior wine knowledge is required. The course suits beginners through to experienced tasters looking to deepen their understanding of Spanish wine.
What's included
Each session includes
- All wines tasted across the evening
- Glassware and tasting equipment
- Course notes and regional maps
- Expert guidance throughout the tasting
Times and pricing
Venue
Melbourne Wine School
1/43 Stewart StreetRichmond, Victoria 3121
Entry requirements
Attendees must be at least 18 years old. There are no other requirements.
Key policies
Zero tolerance
Melbourne Wine School has a zero-tolerance policy for threatening behaviour or acts of aggression and violence, physical or verbal, towards any member of our staff. Any violation will result in removal from the course without refund.
Illness
If you are unwell on the day of a session, please let us know. Missed sessions cannot be refunded but may be transferred to a future intake at our discretion.
These are the policies most likely to affect your booking. Please read our full terms before purchasing.
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