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

The most unusual part of this Alicante outing is the pairing of wine and architecture. You leave the city for Novelda, visit a winery founded in 1707, taste three local wines, then see Santa Magdalena Church and the medieval Castle of Mola.

I like the small group, capped at 11 people, because you can ask questions without shouting across a bus. I also like the added local guidance from drivers such as Yevgen and Stas, who have pointed out sights along the road and offered useful ideas for the rest of a trip.

The main thing to keep in mind is the tight three-hour schedule. The winery visit, tasting, church, and castle make for a full morning, and the winery guide may keep the tasting brief. One visitor also received only a small glass of each wine, so this is a tasting tour, not a long lunch with generous pours.

Key points before you book

• A 1707 winery in Novelda: Visit the vineyard, old house, winery, and production areas with a guide.
• Three Spanish wines: Taste one white, one rosé, and one red with breadsticks, olives, and a small tapa.
• Santa Magdalena Church: See the unusual church built in a style inspired by Antoni Gaudí.
• Castle of Mola: Add a 12th-century medieval site and wide views outside Alicante.
• Small-group transport: Ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with no more than 11 people.
• A useful Alicante side trip: This gives you a look beyond the city in about three hours, with pickup and return at the meeting point.

Why Novelda makes a good half-day escape

Alicante is easy to enjoy from the waterfront and old town, but the surrounding area gives you a different sense of the province. Novelda offers a compact change of pace: vineyards, historic buildings, a church with a distinctive design, and a castle on higher ground.

This is not a tour built around one famous monument. Its appeal comes from the mix. You get a short drive through the Alicante area, a working wine visit, three tastings, and two architectural stops. That makes it a useful choice if you want more than city streets but do not want to commit to a full-day excursion.

The outing begins at 10:30 in the morning and lasts about three hours. You return to the starting meeting point, so the timing works well for an afternoon in Alicante. Since the activity requires good weather, you should keep a little flexibility in your plans. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

The ride from Alicante to Novelda

The air-conditioned vehicle matters, especially on a warm Spanish day. With a maximum group of 11, the ride should feel more personal than a large coach excursion, and you have a better chance to speak with the guide.

Yevgen has been particularly helpful with practical details such as pickup updates, driving, and pointing out landmarks on the way. Stas has also led the outing. The exact guide can vary, but the experience depends heavily on this driver-guide role. You are not simply being delivered to a winery. Your guide may explain what you are passing and help fit the church and castle into the morning.

That personal format is useful if you have questions about Alicante, Novelda, or places to visit later. It also makes the tour social without forcing you into a large group. You can meet other wine lovers, but the group remains small enough for conversation.

The tradeoff is that this is a guided transfer rather than a long, independent exploration of the area. You have a set schedule, and the time at each stop must be shared among the winery, church, and castle.

Inside the old winery founded in 1707

The winery is the heart of the experience. Its age gives the visit a sense of continuity, but the tour also takes you through practical parts of production. You visit the vineyard, the old house, the winery, and production facilities while learning about the winemaking process.

That range makes the stop more useful than a tasting held only in a shop or restaurant. You can connect the bottle in your glass with the place where grapes are grown, wine is made, and bottles are aged or processed. The guide explains how the winery works and gives you a look at an older Spanish wine property.

The winery is described as quaint, beautiful, and large, depending on which part you are seeing. You should expect a real working visit rather than a polished museum display. Some parts may feel more functional than theatrical, which is often part of the appeal for people who want a direct look at local wine production.

The winery guide may move quickly. One visitor wanted more time to hear about the wines and ask questions, so you may need to speak up during the visit. If wine details matter to you, ask about the grape varieties, aging, and differences between the three pours while you have the chance. The driver-guide may also add useful context before or after the winery tour.

Three wines, small snacks, and a short tasting

The tasting includes three different wines: white, rosé, and red. Breadsticks, olives, and a small tapa are served alongside them. This is a pleasant way to finish the winery visit, but you should think of it as a sample, not a meal.

The pours can be modest. One person found that only a small glass of each wine was offered, and the red was served cold on one occasion. That will not bother everyone, but it is worth knowing if you are booking mainly for a serious wine tasting. The experience gives you a chance to compare styles and decide what you like, rather than providing a large quantity of wine.

I like the balance of wine and snacks because it keeps the morning moving. You get something to eat with the alcohol, and the olives and tapa add a local touch. Still, lunch is not included, so do not arrive expecting a full meal. Lunch can sometimes be ordered in advance with a table reservation for a private tour, or arranged during the winery visit under specific timing conditions. Confirm that option before booking if food is important to you.

The tasting also suits mixed groups. Wine enthusiasts can ask more detailed questions, while casual drinkers can enjoy a few local samples without spending an entire afternoon at a vineyard.

Santa Magdalena Church and Gaudí-inspired design

Santa Magdalena Church is one of the most memorable stops because it looks unlike a standard church visit. It was built in a style inspired by Gaudí, giving the outing an architectural edge that wine tours do not usually include.

The church is near the winery and is often visited as part of the drive through Novelda. Your guide can explain the building and allow time to look around. Several people found the church beautiful and appreciated the views from the area around it.

This stop is also a good reason to bring more than a wine-lover’s interest. If you are traveling with someone who is less excited about tastings, the church adds visual variety. It breaks up the winery portion with a completely different subject: design, religious architecture, and the character of Novelda.

The time here may be limited, since the whole activity lasts only three hours. You will see the church rather than spend half a day studying every feature. If you prefer slow photography or detailed architectural visits, you may want to ask the guide how much time is available at the stop.

Mola Castle and views outside the city

The Castle of Mola dates from the 12th century and adds a medieval setting to the morning. It gives you another layer of Alicante province, far removed from the modern streets and beach areas of the city.

The castle stop is especially valuable because it helps you understand the area’s defensive past. It also offers broad views, making it a good place to pause after the winery. Several outings have included enough time for independent exploring, and Yevgen has sometimes allowed people to linger at the castle and church.

The castle is an added attraction within the route, but the exact amount of time may depend on the day’s schedule. One guide has also dropped visitors at a different castle afterward, but you should not count on that extra stop. The listed plan covers Mola Castle and the Gaudí-style church.

You will get more from this part if you wear comfortable shoes and are ready for a little walking. The supplied details do not state the walking distance or surface conditions, so anyone who needs very specific access information should ask before booking. Most people can participate, but the activity does not promise a special accessibility arrangement.

What the small group changes

A maximum of 11 people is a strong point. You can ask the driver about Alicante, request clarification at the winery, and hear explanations without the noise of a large bus group.

The format also helps when the group is small enough to feel flexible. On one outing, Yevgen kept the tour going even though only two people had booked. That suggests the experience may retain its personal character even when demand is light.

There is a social side, too. You share the tasting with other wine lovers, but the group is not so large that everyone disappears into the crowd. If you enjoy meeting people during a trip, this is an easy setting for conversation.

The limitation is that a small group does not guarantee a long tasting. The winery guide’s pace and the day’s timing still control how much you hear. A smaller vehicle improves the ride and conversation, but it cannot turn a three-hour tour into a full winery day.

Is $64.89 a fair price?

At $64.89 per person, the value depends on how many parts of the outing you would otherwise arrange yourself. The price covers the air-conditioned vehicle, transportation to and from the meeting point, admission costs, the guided winery visit, three wine samples, snacks, and the church and castle stops.

For someone without a car, that is a convenient bundle. You avoid arranging transport to Novelda and do not need to work out how to combine a winery with Santa Magdalena Church and Mola Castle. You also have a guide who can explain the area and offer suggestions for the rest of your visit.

The price is less compelling if your only goal is to drink wine. The tasting consists of three small pours, and lunch costs extra. You are paying for the complete morning: driving, local interpretation, architecture, medieval remains, and access to the winery.

I would consider it good value for a first visit to Alicante when you want a straightforward trip outside the city. It is also practical for couples, families, and small groups who want transport handled. Wine specialists seeking a long technical tasting should compare it with a dedicated winery tour before booking.

Who will enjoy this Alicante tour most?

You are a good match if you want several types of experience in one morning. The tour suits people who like wine but also want to see buildings and viewpoints. It works well for couples, families, and groups, and most people can participate.

You will probably enjoy it if you appreciate a guide who acts as both driver and local contact. Yevgen has been praised for polite service, safe driving, clear English, and helpful updates. Those details matter when you are visiting an unfamiliar area and want the morning to run smoothly.

You may want another option if you need a full meal, large wine servings, or a long sit-down tasting. You should also ask questions before booking if you need detailed accessibility information, since the supplied tour information only says that most people can participate.

Booking about four weeks ahead is common, with the activity averaging 28 days booked in advance. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

My call: book it for variety, not volume

I would book this tour if I wanted an easy trip from Alicante that combined a historic winery with unusual architecture. The church and castle keep the morning from becoming a simple tasting, while the small vehicle and guides such as Yevgen add useful local context.

I would not book it expecting a long wine seminar or a generous lunch. The tasting is modest, the schedule is compact, and the winery guide may move quickly. But if you value a well-organized outing, three authentic local wines, a 1707 property, Santa Magdalena Church, and Mola Castle in one morning, $64.89 is a sensible price.

FAQ

How long does the Alicante and Novelda tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 10:30 am.

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 travelers.

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?

No. Lunch is not included, though it may be possible to arrange it in advance in certain private-tour or timing situations.

What sites are visited besides the winery?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.