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

The most unusual part of this Alicante excursion is the pairing of a working winery founded in 1707 with a church built in Gaudí’s style. In a few hours, you leave the city, enter the Alicante countryside, and get a taste of local wine, architecture, and medieval history without committing to a full-day trip.

I like the easy hotel pickup and the small group size, which keeps the ride personal and comfortable. I also like that guides such as Yevgen and Stas do more than drive. They explain the area, point out sights along the way, and often add useful context at the church and castle. The main drawback is time: three hours passes quickly, and the winery visit can feel brief if you want a long vineyard walk or a detailed tasting lesson.

Key points to know before you book

• An 18th-century estate: Visit the old farmhouse and winery once linked to the Marquis of La Romana.
• Three wines with simple snacks: Taste white, rosé, and red wines with breadsticks, olives, and a tapa.
• A useful Alicante side trip: Reach Novelda in roughly 30 minutes from the center of the province.
• Two striking bonus sights: See the Gaudí-style church and the 12th-century Castle of Mola.
• Small-group transport: Ride in a clean, modern car with no more than 11 participants.
• A short, well-contained outing: The three-hour schedule works well when you want to see beyond Alicante without losing a whole day.

From Alicante to Novelda in about 30 minutes

This is a smart choice when you want a quick change of scenery from Alicante. Pickup is available at Meliá Alicante, Hotel Albahía, Hotel Port Alicante City & Beach, and Hotel Travelodge Alicante Puerto. You receive the vehicle model and license plate before pickup, a useful detail when several cars are stopping near a busy hotel.

The drive takes about 30 minutes, depending on the starting point and traffic. You can simply watch the surroundings pass by, or listen as your guide explains the countryside, agriculture, and local sights. Yevgen and Stas are frequently named as guides, and both are described as friendly, attentive, and clear in English.

The vehicles used for the outing have been described as modern, clean, and comfortable. Bottled water is provided, which matters on warm Alicante days, especially when the church and castle stops involve time outdoors. Smoking, food, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed in the vehicle.

The group limit is 11 people. That is large enough to keep the price reasonable but small enough that the experience does not feel like a coach tour. Several outings have had only a handful of participants, making it easier to ask questions or request a quick explanation during the drive.

The old winery and farmhouse

The winery is the heart of the experience. Its story reaches back to 1707, and the estate once belonged to the Marquis of La Romana. That connection gives the visit a sense of place that you do not get from a modern tasting room built only for tourism.

You begin with a guided visit to the old house, vineyard area, and production facilities. The tour explains the process from organically grown grapes through fermentation, aging, and bottling. The subject is straightforward, but seeing the rooms in order helps you understand how the wine moves from grape to bottle.

The fermentation room shows the early working stage of production. Next comes the barrel room, where the wine rests and develops. The bottling area completes the process. These are practical spaces, not just decorative exhibits, so you get a look at how an active winery operates.

The old farmhouse and cellar rooms are part of the appeal. Their age and setting provide the character, while the production areas connect that past to wine made today. Bring a camera, since the architecture and surrounding countryside are among the best photo opportunities on the excursion.

You should set your expectations correctly. This is not a long vineyard hike, and the visit does not appear designed as an advanced wine course. It is a compact introduction to the estate and its methods. If you already know a great deal about wine production, you may find the technical detail fairly light.

The three-wine tasting

The tasting includes one white, one rosé, and one red wine. Each is explained as it is served, giving you a basic sense of how the wines differ and how the winery presents its range.

Breadsticks, olives, and a tapa accompany the tasting. These are modest snacks rather than a meal, but they make the tasting more comfortable and give you something to enjoy between glasses. If you want lunch, you can ask about ordering at the restaurant.

Lunch is not included. It may be ordered in advance through the private tour option, or requested during the winery visit if tables are available. That second choice is not guaranteed, and it depends on the agreed waiting time with your driver and whether the driver has another tour afterward. I would not book this outing expecting a full restaurant lunch unless you arrange it beforehand.

The tasting takes place in the restaurant, which adds a relaxed setting after the production tour. You can focus on the wine rather than standing in a crowded cellar. Some visitors have also purchased bottles, olive oil, or winery merchandise, but buying is optional and there is no stated pressure to do so.

One point deserves attention. The tasting explanation may vary depending on who leads the winery portion. The main guide may speak excellent English, while the winery staff member’s English can be harder to follow at times. If wine education is your main goal, ask questions and stay close to the guide during the production visit.

The Gaudí-style church and Mola Castle

The church is an unexpected highlight. Its design is described as being in Gaudí’s style, with an appearance that recalls the grand, imaginative church architecture associated with Barcelona. It gives the trip an architectural focus beyond wine and provides a strong reason to choose this outing over a simple tasting transfer.

The nearby Castle of Mola dates from the 12th century. Even a short stop adds a medieval layer to the day and helps place Novelda within the long story of the region. The castle is not treated as a separate full tour, so your guide gives you enough background to understand what you are seeing rather than delivering a lengthy historical lecture.

The order of the stops can vary. Some outings visit the church and castle first, then continue to the winery. On others, the guide makes the sights an extra stop around the winery visit. In either case, the arrangement works well because the church and castle break up the tasting portion and give you a chance to see more of Novelda.

Allow for the fact that these stops are partly outdoors. In hot weather, water, sun protection, and sensible shoes will make the visit more pleasant. In wet weather, the outdoor views can be limited, as one outing found, but the church and winery still provide worthwhile shelter and interest.

What the guide adds to the day

Transport alone would get you to Novelda, but the guide is a major part of the value. Yevgen has been praised for careful pickup instructions, clear English, local information, and attention to comfort. Stas has also been noted for his knowledge of Alicante and the surrounding countryside, friendly manner, and safe driving.

You receive pickup details in advance, including the time, meeting point, vehicle model, and license plate. That removes much of the usual uncertainty around hotel pickups. Guides may also take photographs for you and share them later, a thoughtful extra if you are traveling light or want a group picture.

The drive is not dead time. Your guide can explain the agricultural areas, the castle, the church, and the route to Novelda. This is particularly useful if Alicante is your base and you want a quick introduction to places that would be awkward to reach without a car.

The guide’s role has limits. The winery itself has its own staff, and that person leads much of the production explanation. If you want one continuous voice throughout the visit, be aware that the experience is shared between your transport guide and the winery guide.

Is $69 good value?

At $69 per person, the price includes round-trip transport, the winery visit, a guided explanation of the production rooms, three wines, snacks, bottled water, and the church and castle stops. You are paying for convenience as much as for the tasting.

A rental car might cost less per person for a larger group, but then you would need to navigate, avoid drinking, find parking, and arrange your own explanation of the winery. Public transport would not provide the same direct route or the added sights. For a solo visitor, couple, or small group, the package is reasonably priced.

The best value comes from the combination of activities. A standard wine tasting could feel expensive at this price, but this is also a countryside outing, an architectural stop, and a short history trip. The three-hour length keeps the cost and time commitment under control.

There are limits to that value. The tasting has three wines, not a large flight, and the food is only a tapa with small snacks. The winery portion is informative but not a full-day vineyard experience. If you want a leisurely meal, extensive vineyard walking, or a specialist tasting, a longer private wine tour may suit you better.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Wheelchair users should note that the experience is not suitable for them.

Who will enjoy this Alicante excursion?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a simple way to get outside Alicante without spending an entire day on the road. It suits couples, small groups, solo visitors, and cruise passengers who can reach the Meliá Alicante pickup point easily. One cruise passenger found that the cruise shuttle stopped only a short distance from that hotel.

Wine beginners will get the most from the visit. You can learn the basic stages of production, compare white, rosé, and red wines, and see how an old estate still functions as a winery. The church and castle also make the day appealing if your interests extend beyond food and drink.

The outing is less suitable if you need step-free access, dislike short visits, or want a serious wine seminar. The schedule is compact, and outdoor stops depend on weather. You should also remember that lunch is not part of the standard price.

Practical tips for making the most of it

Wear comfortable shoes that work for both the winery and the castle stop. Bring a camera, since the old estate, church, castle, and countryside all offer worthwhile subjects.

Keep your hotel pickup message available. The vehicle details are sent before arrival, and checking the license plate saves time at a busy entrance.

Do not plan a heavy meal around the tasting unless you arrange lunch ahead. The breadsticks, olives, and tapa are welcome, but they are not a substitute for lunch.

If you are particularly interested in winemaking, ask for extra explanation in the fermentation and barrel rooms. The standard tour gives you a useful overview, but your questions can make the visit more rewarding.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a compact, well-organized trip from Alicante that combines wine, architecture, and history. The winery’s 1707 origins, the three-wine tasting, and the Gaudí-style church give the outing more range than a basic vineyard transfer.

Skip it if your priority is a long vineyard walk, an elaborate meal, or highly technical wine instruction. For most visitors with three spare hours, though, the clean transport, careful guides, small group, and extra church and castle stops make $69 a fair price for seeing a less familiar side of the Alicante area.

FAQ

How long does the Alicante winery tour last?

The experience lasts three hours, including transport, the winery visit, wine tasting, and the church and castle stops.

Where does pickup take place?

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

Which wines are included in the tasting?

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

Is food included with the wine tasting?

Breadsticks, olives, and a tapa are included. Lunch is not included, but it may be arranged in advance through the private tour option or requested at the winery if tables and timing permit.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The tour has a live English-speaking guide, and the group is limited to 11 participants.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users.