Alicante: Old Winery with Tastings & Gaudí’s style of Church

A 1707 winery, a Gaudí-style church, and a medieval castle make this a fine short escape from Alicante. At the winery, you see the old farmhouse, fermentation room, barrel room, and bottling area before tasting three wines with breadsticks, olives, and a tapa.

I like the small group size, capped at 11, and the easy hotel pickup in a clean, air-conditioned car. I also like the way guides such as Yevgen and Stas add context on the Alicante countryside rather than simply driving you from one stop to the next. The main drawback is time: three hours goes quickly, and the winery tour may feel brief if you want a serious wine lesson or time among the vines.

Key points to know before booking

• A working winery founded in 1707: Explore an old estate once owned by the Marquis of La Romana, then see the rooms where wine is fermented, aged, and bottled.
• Three wines with simple local snacks: The tasting includes white, rosé, and red wine, plus breadsticks, olives, and a tapa.
• Two worthwhile bonus sights: Visit the unusual Gaudí-style church and Mola Castle, built in the 12th century.
• A relaxed half-day from Alicante: Round-trip transport, bottled water, and pickup from four hotels keep the outing simple.
• Guides make the drive useful: Yevgen and Stas have been praised for clear pickup instructions, local information, careful driving, and friendly service.
• Allow for a light tasting, not a full wine course: The wines are explained, but one account found the tasting less detailed than expected.

Why this Alicante wine trip is worth your morning

Alicante has plenty to see in the city, but the province opens up quickly once you leave the center. This outing takes you to Novelda, about 30 minutes away by car, for a look at wine production and a pair of distinctive historic sights.

The appeal is the mix. You are not spending the whole trip in a vehicle, and you are not spending the whole time at a tasting table. You get countryside views, a historic estate, a working bodega, local wine, and architecture that most short city breaks would otherwise miss.

At $69 per person, the price is reasonable if you value convenience. Transport, a live English-speaking guide, the winery visit, three wines, snacks, bottled water, the church, and the castle are all included. You would pay separately for transport and a winery visit, and arranging those pieces yourself would take more effort.

Still, this is best viewed as a compact introduction rather than a full wine day. The advertised duration is three hours, and that includes driving, sightseeing, the winery visit, and the return trip. If you want vineyard walks, several producers, a long lunch, or a technical tasting, choose a longer wine excursion.

Pickup from Alicante and the drive to Novelda

Pickup is available at Meliá Alicante, Hotel Albahía, Hotel Port Alicante City & Beach, and Travelodge Alicante Puerto. You receive the vehicle model and registration number before pickup, which is useful at a busy hotel entrance. Yevgen has been especially praised for sending clear meeting details in advance.

The drive takes roughly 30 minutes. That is long enough to see the Alicante surroundings but short enough that you are not losing half the day on the road. Guides such as Yevgen and Stas provide information about the area, agriculture, and nearby sights along the way.

The vehicle matters here. The outing uses a small group format with no more than 11 people, and recent departures have used clean, modern cars or vans. Bottled water is supplied, a small but welcome touch during hot weather. One guide was also praised for taking extra care with hydration and comfort during a midday trip.

There are a few clear rules. Smoking, food, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed in the vehicle. Bring a camera, especially if you want to record the church, castle, and countryside views.

The 1707 estate and its old winery rooms

The main stop is an ancient farmhouse and winery founded in 1707. The property once belonged to the Marquis of La Romana, giving the visit a strong connection to the old agricultural estates of the Alicante area.

You begin with the estate and vineyard before moving through the production rooms. The route includes the fermentation room, barrel room, and bottling area. That order helps you understand the basic path from grape to bottle rather than treating wine as an abstract tasting exercise.

The winery works with organically grown grapes, and the guide explains the process from harvest through fermentation and aging. You can expect a practical visit, not a museum display. The rooms, old architecture, and working facilities are part of the interest.

I particularly like that the tour connects the building to the drink in your glass. You see where wine is made, then taste it soon afterward. For someone new to Spanish wine, that structure makes the visit easy to follow.

The winery is also photogenic. The old rooms and farmhouse provide more character than a modern industrial facility, though you should not expect a large estate tour with hours of free time. Several people would have liked to stay longer, so keep your expectations realistic.

The tasting: three wines and a few snacks

The tasting takes place in the restaurant and includes three wines: one white, one rosé, and one red. Breadsticks, olives, and a tapa are served alongside them. This is enough food to make the tasting comfortable, but it is not lunch.

Each wine receives an explanation, including what you are drinking and how it relates to the winery. The setting adds to the pleasure. You can sit down, taste at an unhurried pace, and enjoy the old winery atmosphere rather than standing at a counter.

The selection gives you a useful range. The white and rosé offer a lighter start, while the red lets you compare a fuller style. You can decide which bottle you like best before visiting the shop, where wines and other vineyard products may be available to buy.

The level of detail can vary. One English-speaking participant found the winery guide difficult to understand, and another felt the tasting was not as in-depth as expected. That is worth noting if wine education is your main goal. You will learn the basic production story and hear an explanation of each wine, but the experience may not cover grape varieties, vintages, food pairing, or detailed tasting technique at length.

If you are mainly after an enjoyable introduction with a pleasant setting and three samples, the format works well. If you already know a great deal about wine, you may want to ask questions during the tasting to get more from it.

Lunch is not included. You may be able to order it at the restaurant if tables are available and your driver has enough time, but this is not guaranteed. Lunch can also be arranged in advance through the private tour option. I would not count on a full meal unless you have confirmed it ahead of time.

The Gaudí-style church and Mola Castle

The church and castle are an important part of the outing, not just filler between the hotel and winery. Both are in the Novelda area, and the stops add architecture and local history to a trip that could otherwise focus only on wine.

The church was built in a Gaudí-inspired style, with an unusual design that makes it memorable even if you are not an architecture specialist. It is often described as a smaller, local echo of the famous Sagrada Família style. The exterior and surrounding views make this a good camera stop.

Mola Castle dates from the 12th century. You get a look at the medieval remains and a brief explanation of what you are seeing. This is not a long castle visit with a full museum program, but it gives you a sense of the area’s earlier defensive role.

The order can vary. Some departures visit the church and castle before the winery, while others include the church as an extra stop on the return. The exact timing depends on the day and the driver. Guides Yevgen and Stas have been praised for adding clear explanations and, in some cases, including the sights as an extra courtesy.

Do not expect a long hike around either site. The stops are short, which suits the three-hour schedule but limits time for detailed exploration. If you want to linger over the architecture or castle remains, a private tour may give you more control.

The guides and the value of a small group

The guide can make or break a short regional tour, and this experience has a strong record on that point. Yevgen and Stas are both named repeatedly in the feedback, with praise for punctuality, local knowledge, friendly conversation, careful driving, and helpful communication before pickup.

That practical service matters. You do not have to work out regional buses, find a taxi to a rural winery, or worry about drinking and driving. You receive the meeting details in advance, travel in a clean vehicle, and return to one of the original hotel stops.

A group limit of 11 keeps the trip personal without making it a private outing. Groups of six to eight have been comfortable in the vehicle, and a smaller group can make questions easier. The guide can also adjust small details, such as making an extra stop at the church or castle when time allows.

The guide is not necessarily the person who leads the winery walk. A winery staff member may explain the production rooms and tasting. That split works well when both people speak clearly, though language and presentation can vary. The main driver-guide remains your source for Alicante and Novelda information.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want one easy excursion beyond Alicante. It is also a good fit if you enjoy wine but do not need a full-day cellar program, or if you want to combine a tasting with architecture and a medieval site.

It suits cruise passengers particularly well when the pickup at Meliá Alicante works with your port transfer. One cruise passenger found that the shuttle stopped only a short distance from the hotel, making the meeting point practical.

The tour also works for couples, friends, and small family groups who prefer a relaxed pace. The tasting is modest, and the included snacks help, but anyone expecting a complete meal should plan ahead.

I would think twice if you use a wheelchair. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. You should also be comfortable with a short visit format and some time in the vehicle.

Timing, cancellation, and practical details

The advertised duration is three hours, with starting times depending on availability. Pickup and drop-off use the same four hotel locations, and the return is designed to finish at the original meeting point.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately, useful when your Alicante plans are still changing.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking around an old estate and outdoor sights. A camera is worth bringing. In warm weather, use the supplied water and consider sun protection, especially if you spend time outside the winery.

The tour is conducted in English. Since the winery portion may be led by a different guide, ask for clarification if a technical explanation is hard to follow. That simple step can turn a short tasting into a more rewarding one.

Should you book the winery and Novelda tour?

Book it if you want an easy, good-value half-day that combines a historic winery with two unusual sights. The clean transport, small group, bottled water, three tastings, snacks, and dependable guides such as Yevgen and Stas give the $69 price solid value.

Choose something else if you want a long vineyard walk, an extensive cellar lesson, or a restaurant lunch included as standard. The visit is short, and the tasting is more social and introductory than specialist.

For most Alicante visitors, I like the balance. You get beyond the city, see a working 1707 estate, taste three wines, and visit a church and castle without spending a full day on the road. That is a sensible way to add a little of the province to your city stay.

FAQ

How long does the Alicante winery tour last?

The experience lasts three hours, including pickup, transport, the Novelda visit, the winery experience, and return transportation.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available at Meliá Alicante, Hotel Albahía, Hotel Port Alicante City & Beach, and Travelodge Alicante Puerto.

What wines are included in the tasting?

You taste three different wines: one white, one rosé, and one red.

Are snacks included?

Yes. The tasting includes breadsticks, olives, and a tapa. Lunch is not included.

Can I order lunch at the winery?

You may be able to order lunch if tables are available and there is enough time in the schedule. Lunch can also be arranged in advance through the private tour option.

Is transport included?

Yes. Round-trip transportation from the listed Alicante pickup points is included, along with bottled water in the vehicle.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.

Is the experience suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users.