November 15 Wine tasting competition in Yecla!
Pit your tasting skills against the best at the annual Certamen Enológico “Fiestas de la Virgen” in Yecla
The Escuadra Minerva group is once again holding a wine tasting competition in the days before the annual Fiestas de la Virgen in Yecla, including a special event for amateurs and a presentation given by Juan Carlos Garrido Gallardo, acknowledged as the finest Spanish ham slicer in the world, and Víctor Fernández named “Cuchillo de Oro 2025” (The Golden Knife of 2025).
This is the 14th time the event has been held and proceedings begin at 10.30 with the amateur tasting competition at the home of the Consejo Regulador de la D.O. Yecla (click for map). The wines involved are all from the 5 wineries of affiliated to the D.O. Yecla label: Bodegas Evine, Bodegas Castaño, Bodegas La Purísima, Bodegas Barahonda and Bodega Conde de Montornés.
(Click here for more information about these wineries and other aspects of the Yecla Wine Route)
In the evening the venue changes to the Feria del Mueble building, where at 20.00 the ham slicing presentation takes place, and this is followed by the awarding of prizes for the earlier tasting competition (with the winner taking a handy 200-euro cheque!).
Registration for the tasting competition is available online here at a price of just 5 euros.
More visiting information is available from the tourist office of Yecla or, for more local events, news and visiting information in English, go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Address
Plaza Mayor, Casa de los Arcos, s/n 30510 YECLATel: 968 754 104
Oficina de Turismo de Yecla
In early 2025, due to renovation work at the usual office, the service is located on the other side of the Plaza Mayor at Calle Epifanio Ibáñez nº 2 (click for map).
Yecla is a large municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia, home to just under 35,000 people, and these days is best known for its wines, which enjoy Denomination of Origin status, and its furniture production, which has its origins in the abundance of pine trees on the mountainsides and the high plateaux.
While visitors in the 21st century may be attracted primarily by wine tourism, the town (or city, as it was proclaimed in 1878) also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage, and an identity quite different from the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia. For this reason it is often grouped together with its neighbour and fellow wine-producing area Jumilla as part of the Altiplano area.
Yecla borders with Castilla-La Mancha and the Region of Valencia and is closer to Alicante coastal areas than much of Murcia. These visitors come to see the historic old town itself - an atmospheric and interesting place, crammed full of history - the natural beauty of Monte Arabí, with stunning views for those who enjoy the outdoors, the gastonomy and of course the wine route.
Yecla boasts cave paintings from 10,000 years ago in Monte Arabí, a Bronze Age settlement at El Arabilejo, Iberian remains in El Pulpillo and a Roman administrative centre at Los Torrejones as well as the remnants of the 11th century Moorish castle on the hill behind the town. More modern (and complete) testimony to the past are the buildings in the town centre, which include the grandiose Basílica de la Purísima, with its striking blue dome, the archaeological museum and the attractive Plaza Mayor, where the 16th century Town Hall stands alongside the Renaissance Casa de los Alarcos, the clock tower and the old grain store.
The tourist office holds a full selection of leaflets, maps, pre-planned routes, accommodation and restaurant options and information about visiting Yecla for both individuals and groups.
There is parking close to the tourist office, although those driving to Yecla for the first time are advised to park in Calle Perales.
For further information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 8.00 to 15.00
Saturdays 10.30 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.30.
Public holidays 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Yecla tourist office
