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

Novelda gives this three-hour outing more range than a standard wine tasting. You tour a winery founded in 1707, taste three local wines, then see Santa Magdalena Church and the medieval Castle of Mola, with wide views around the town and hills.

I like the small group, capped at 11, because you can ask questions without shouting across a coach. I also like the useful local touch: guides such as Yevgen and Stas have shared tips about Alicante, pointed out landmarks on the drive, and allowed time to explore the church and castle.

The main consideration is pace. The winery visit, tasting, church, and castle all fit into roughly three hours, so this is an introduction rather than a long wine day. The tasting pours are modest, and lunch costs extra.

Key points at a glance

• A winery founded in 1707: See the old house, vineyard, winery, and production areas before tasting.
• Three local wines included: The tasting covers white, rosé, and red wine, with breadsticks, olives, and a small tapa.
• Two striking Novelda sights: Visit Santa Magdalena Church, built in a Gaudí-inspired style, and the 12th-century Castle of Mola.
• Small groups up to 11: You get a better chance to ask questions and speak with the guide.
• A helpful Alicante outing: The air-conditioned vehicle and guide commentary make the trip useful for seeing more than the city center.
• Good value at $64.89: Transport, entry fees, guiding, wine, and snacks are included, but not lunch or tips.

Why Novelda makes a good wine day from Alicante

Alicante is easy to enjoy without leaving the city, but this trip gives you a look at the surrounding area without requiring a rental car. Novelda combines wine, architecture, and a medieval hilltop setting in one compact outing.

That mix matters. If you only wanted three glasses of wine, you could find a simpler tasting closer to Alicante. Here, the wine is part of a wider half-day experience. You get a guided look at an old winery, then visit two distinctive sights that give the outing a stronger sense of place.

The tour begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts about three hours. That timing leaves much of your afternoon free for Alicante, making it easy to fit into a short city break. The air-conditioned vehicle is another practical advantage, especially on a warm day or if you prefer not to work out public transport connections to Novelda.

The group limit of 11 is important. Small groups make it easier to hear explanations inside the winery and ask about the wines, production, or local sights. It also creates a more social setting if you are traveling alone or would like to meet other people who enjoy wine.

Inside a winery dating to 1707

The winery is the heart of the outing. You visit the vineyard, old house, winery, and production facilities with a professional guide, learning how the wine is made and aged.

A winery founded in 1707 gives the visit a real connection to local tradition. This is not only a room with bottles lined up for purchase. The old house and production areas help you see how wine has been made and stored over time, while the modern facilities show the continuing working side of the operation.

The exact depth of the winery talk can vary. The included visit is informative, but one account described the winery guide as moving quickly and giving less time for questions about the wines. If tasting detail matters to you, ask questions when you can, especially about grape varieties, aging, and the difference between the three pours.

The tasting includes one white, one rosé, and one red. Breadsticks, olives, and a small tapa accompany the wine. That is enough for a light mid-morning snack, not a meal. You should not book this expecting a full lunch or generous wine servings. One tasting account specifically noted that each pour was very small.

The red wine may be served chilled. That is worth knowing because it may differ from your usual expectations, depending on the wine and the winery’s serving choice. If you have strong preferences or want to understand why a particular wine is served at a certain temperature, ask the guide.

The range of three styles is useful for a short visit. You can compare the wines without committing to a long tasting menu. The white and rosé are often easy choices for warm weather, while the red gives you a different expression of the local production. The tour information does not specify grape varieties or vintages, so do not expect a technical tasting sheet unless the winery provides one on the day.

Santa Magdalena Church and its Gaudí-inspired design

The church visit adds something unusual to a wine excursion. Santa Magdalena Church is built in a Gaudí-inspired style, with a shape and decorative approach that make it different from the standard historic churches you may see in Alicante.

The church is sometimes referred to as Mary Magdalene Church in tour descriptions. It is located near the castle, so you can see both sights during the same stop rather than making separate trips from Alicante.

The church is not just a quick photo stop if your guide allows time to look around. The unusual design gives you a chance to compare Novelda’s architecture with the better-known modernist tradition associated with Gaudí. You may find the outside more immediately striking than a conventional church interior, and the setting adds to the appeal.

Guides Yevgen and Stas have been praised for explaining the sights and pointing out details along the way. Yevgen, in particular, has been described as polite, clear in English, prompt, and willing to adjust the outing when possible. Those qualities matter here because the church benefits from context. Without a guide, you might admire the building but miss why its design is notable.

Time is still limited. This is not a long architectural tour, and the church is one part of a schedule that also includes the winery and castle. If you are an architecture specialist, you may want a separate visit with more time. If you simply want to see an unusual church beyond Alicante’s center, this stop earns its place.

Castle of Mola and the views over Novelda

The Castle of Mola dates from the 12th century and gives the trip a clear medieval element. Its elevated setting offers broad views over the surrounding area, which several accounts singled out as one of the most enjoyable parts of the outing.

The castle also helps break up the tasting. After time indoors at the winery, you get open air, stone walls, and a chance to walk around. Wear comfortable shoes, since the experience includes exploring the church and castle rather than remaining seated in the vehicle.

The amount of time at the castle can depend on the day’s schedule and the driving arrangements. Guides have sometimes allowed extra time to explore, and one guide even dropped a participant at another castle afterward. Treat such flexibility as a possible courtesy, not a guaranteed part of the program.

The views are a strong reason to keep this stop in the plan. You are not only visiting a wine facility and returning to Alicante. You are seeing the setting around Novelda, with its church, castle, and elevated outlook. That makes the trip feel more connected to the region.

If you dislike walking or uneven historic sites, keep the castle portion in mind when deciding. The tour is suitable for most people, but the information provided does not promise a fully accessible route or detail the walking surface.

What the small-group format changes

A maximum of 11 people is a useful middle ground. You still get the convenience of organized transport, but the outing should feel less rigid than a large coach tour.

You can ask the English-speaking guide about Alicante, Novelda, the winery, or places to visit later in your trip. This is especially valuable on the drive, when the guide may point out landmarks and explain the area around the city.

Yevgen has been praised for keeping people informed about pickup details, driving calmly, and offering helpful commentary from Alicante to Novelda. Stas has also been praised as a friendly and capable guide. Guide assignments can change, so you should not book on the assumption that a particular person will lead your departure, but the named guides give you a useful sense of the style to expect.

The social side is another benefit. You may be sharing wine with people who are interested in the same subject, and a small group makes conversation easier. Solo participants and couples can both fit comfortably into the format.

The tradeoff is that a small group is not a private tour. You will follow a shared schedule, and the winery’s pace may not match your own interests exactly. Private arrangements may allow lunch to be ordered in advance, but this standard experience does not include lunch.

Is $64.89 a fair price?

At $64.89 per person, the value depends on what you want from the day. The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, guiding, all listed fees and taxes, the winery visit, three wine tastings, snacks, Santa Magdalena Church, and Castle of Mola.

That is a reasonable package if you want transportation from Alicante and several activities in one outing. A simple wine tasting may cost less, but it would not necessarily include a regional drive, an old winery, a church, and a medieval castle.

The snacks are modest. Breadsticks, olives, and a small tapa can take the edge off your appetite, but you should plan to eat before or after the tour if you need a proper meal. Lunch is not included, though it can be ordered in advance with a table reservation on a private tour or arranged during the winery visit under certain timing conditions.

Tips are also not included. Bring a little extra if you want to thank your guide or the winery staff, but tipping is separate from the advertised cost.

I see the price as strongest for visitors who do not have a car and want a convenient trip into the Alicante area. It is less compelling for serious wine collectors seeking a long, technical tasting or for people who want a full-day excursion with a substantial meal.

Who will enjoy this Alicante wine tour?

I would recommend this experience to several types of visitors:

• You want to see more of Alicante than the city center but have only half a day.
• You enjoy wine, yet also want architecture and history.
• You prefer a small group rather than a large bus.
• You want an English-speaking guide who can offer general advice about the area.
• You are traveling alone and like a social activity.
• You want organized transport instead of arranging a winery visit yourself.

Families can also make use of the trip, since the church and castle add interest for people who are not focused on wine. However, the wine tasting remains the central activity, so it may not suit young children as well as a dedicated sightseeing tour.

You should think twice if you want generous pours, a long lunch, or a detailed study of local grape varieties. The tasting is an introduction, and the schedule covers several stops.

Timing, cancellation, and practical planning

The experience starts at 10:30 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point after about three hours. The exact meeting point is not specified in the supplied details, so check your confirmation carefully after booking.

Confirmation is provided at booking, and a mobile ticket is accepted. The activity is offered in English. Most people can participate, though detailed accessibility information is not provided.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded or accepted.

I would wear comfortable shoes and bring water, even though snacks are included. The church and castle mean you are not spending the whole outing in the vehicle or tasting room. If lunch matters to you, arrange it ahead where possible rather than relying on the small tasting snacks.

Should you book the Novelda winery tour?

I would book this tour if you want a compact, well-rounded outing from Alicante. The best feature is the combination of three genuinely different experiences: an old working winery, an unusual Gaudí-inspired church, and a 12th-century castle with views.

The strongest practical reasons are the small group, air-conditioned transport, and helpful guide commentary. Yevgen and Stas have both been praised for friendly service, clear English, safe driving, and useful information. The 4.9 rating from 37 ratings, with all recommending the experience, supports the idea that it delivers what it promises.

Go in with sensible expectations. The tasting portions are small, lunch is extra, and the winery explanation may feel brief if you want a detailed wine lesson. But at $64.89, the combination of transport, wine, snacks, guiding, and Novelda’s sights offers solid value.

Book it if you want a taste of the Alicante region beyond the city. Skip it only if you need a full meal, a long winery session, or a highly technical tasting.

FAQ

How long is the Alicante winery and Novelda tour?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 10:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 11 people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Which wines are included in the tasting?

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

Are snacks included?

Yes. The tasting includes breadsticks, olives, and a small tapa.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included. It may be ordered in advance in connection with a private tour and table reservation, or arranged during the winery visit under the stated timing conditions.

What sights are included besides the winery?

The outing includes Santa Magdalena Church, built in a Gaudí-inspired style, and the medieval Castle of Mola, which dates from the 12th century.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.