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Want to discover the best wine experiences in Alicante? I’ve put together this guide to help you find amazing Alicante wine tours, vineyards, and bodegas.
You can taste the local varieties including the red Monastrell wine and sweet Muscatel white wines, while learning about the rich wine heritage of this stunning Spanish wine region.
Alicante’s wine regions
The wine tradition in Alicante goes back thousands of years, with the Romans being some of the first to grow vines here. Today, Alicante has two main wine areas under its Denominación de Origen (DO):
Marina Alta
In the northern part of Alicante province, this area is known for producing high-quality white wines and sweet fortified wines, such as Moscatel wines. The sea breezes and higher altitude create perfect conditions for these aromatic grapes. Marina Alta comprises of towns famous for its wines and award-winning bodegas including Jalon and Jesus Pobre.
El Alto Vinalopó
The southern wine region stretches along the Vinalopó river valley. This area is famous for its intense continental environment which helps it produce its famous rich red wines, particularly those made from the Monastrell grape, which absolutely thrives in the warm, dry climate.
Wine tours in Alicante
If you’re looking for organised wine tour experiences in Alicante where everything is taken care of including travel, here are some of my recommended wine tour options:
Small group Vinalopo wine experience
Book the Vinalopo wine experience from €68 per person through Get Your Guide
This brilliant small group tour takes you about 30 minutes from Alicante to the Vinalopo wine region. You’ll have a local wine expert guiding you throughout the day, sharing fascinating bits about Alicante and Spanish wine culture.
The tour visits a family-run vineyard where you can wander through the beautiful grounds. If you’re lucky enough to visit during harvest season, you might even get to sample grapes straight from the vine! The tour includes a thorough look at the wine making process with visits to both the bodega (wine cellar) and holding tanks.
My favourite part is the relaxed wine tasting with snacks, where you can ask questions and learn more about Mediterranean wines. The guides are part of the Official Wine Route of Alicante, so they really know their stuff!
What’s included:
- Transport from Alicante
- Guided winery tour
- Wine tasting with snacks
La Mola Castle and winery tour
Book the La Mola Castle & winery tour from €80 per person on Get Your Guide
Important: You’ll need to book this one at least 2 days in advance!
This fascinating tour combines history with wine! After being picked up in Alicante, you’ll visit the impressive La Mola Castle near Novelda, which was part of a medieval network of castles that protected the Spanish Kingdom.
After the castle, the wine adventure begins with a guided tour through the winery facilities. I was particularly interested in their focus on organic and biodynamic agriculture – they explain how these methods are applied throughout their entire process.
You’ll see everything from the winemaking room to the barrel room, learning how wine is made from bare vineyard to bottled product. The tour concludes with a guided tasting of three signature wines.
Historic Marquis winery experience
Book the historic Marquis winery tour from €57 through Get Your Guide
This tour takes you to an extraordinary winery founded in 1707 that once belonged to the Marquis of La Romana – the history alone makes this worth the visit!
The 30-minute drive from central Alicante is in a comfortable car, giving you time to enjoy the passing scenery. Upon arrival, you’ll tour the old winery and farmhouse, a stunning 18th-century estate.
What makes this tour special is how comprehensive it is – you’ll see the vineyards, fermentation room, barrel room, and bottling area while learning about their process from growing organic grapes through to the finished product.
The grand finale is a tasting of their wine selection in the restaurant, with each wine accompanied by detailed explanations.
What’s included:
- Transport from Alicante
- Guided tour of the historic winery and production facilities
- Wine tasting in the restaurant
Must-visit wineries in Alicante
Here are some of my favourite wineries and bodegas worth adding to your itinerary:
Enrique Mendoza
Just 40 minutes from Alicante city in Alfàs del Pi, you’ll find Enrique Mendoza bodega, a family-run winery which is one of the most respected in the region. Their guided tours are fantastic – you’ll walk through beautiful vineyards, visit their impressive barrel room, and end with a tasting of their award-winning wines.
The Mendoza family are passionate about sustainable winemaking, and it really shows in their wines. Their Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon blends are outstanding!
Bodegas Bocopa
Bodegas Bocopa represents over 300 local growers and produces some of the most well-known Alicante wines, including Fondillón wine, white wine, sparkling wine, and red wine. Their wines are grown from vineyards where the grapes are hand-selected to produce the most delicious wine.
Their modern winery offers excellent tours in English where you’ll learn about both traditional and innovative winemaking techniques. Don’t miss their famous “Fondillón” – a unique sweet wine that’s exclusive to Alicante and has centuries of history behind it.
Bodegas Xaló
Located in the Jalón Valley, Bodegas Xalo is famous in the area for bringing together many small local producers. It’s brilliant for trying the local Moscatel wines, which range from dry to gorgeously sweet.
Their tasting room offers wonderful value, and the nearby town of Xaló has a lovely weekend market worth visiting too.
Casa Cesilia
Casa Cesilia is an organic winery and restaurant near Novelda is set in a restored 19th-century estate. They focus on organic growing methods and produce excellent Monastrell wines.
The tour includes a visit to their historic cellars and vineyards, followed by a tasting. If you’re feeling peckish, their restaurant serves traditional Spanish dishes that pair perfectly with their wines.
Alicante’s unique wines
Fondillón
Fondillón is a special type of wine made from over-ripened Monastrell grapes, aged for at least 10 years in oak barrels. It’s sweet but balanced, with complex flavours of dried fruits, nuts, and spices.
Shakespeare mentioned it in his works, and it was once served in royal courts across Europe. Today, only a handful of wineries still produce authentic Fondillón.
Moscatel wines
From the Marina Alta region, these wines range from dry to sweet. The sweet varieties make brilliant dessert wines, while the drier ones are perfect summer drinks – fresh and aromatic.
Monastrell reds
The Monastrell grape (known as Mourvèdre in France) is the star of Alicante’s red wines. It creates full-bodied wines with rich plum and blackberry flavours, often with hints of herbs and spice.
Tips for visiting Alicante wineries
- Most wineries require booking in advance for tours and tastings, especially in summer
- If you’re driving, remember to use the spittoons or have a designated driver
- Bring a hat and sunscreen in summer as vineyards offer little shade
- Many wineries have online shops, so you can ship your favourites home if you can’t fit them in your luggage
- Smaller wineries might not have English-speaking staff during quieter periods, so check when booking
