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

Novelda brings together three good reasons to leave Alicante for a few hours: a winery founded in 1707, a striking church built in Gaudí’s style, and the medieval Castle of Mola. The winery visit takes you through its old farmhouse, vineyard, fermentation room, barrel room, and bottling area before three wines are served with breadsticks, olives, and a tapa.

I like the easy hotel pickup and the small group size, limited to 11 people. I also like the guides, especially Yevgen and Stas, who are praised for clear communication, clean vehicles, careful driving, and useful commentary on the countryside. The main drawback is that the wine tasting can be fairly brief, and the winery guide may be harder to understand than the English-speaking driver.

Key points at a glance

• A winery with a long story: Explore an estate founded in 1707 and once linked to the Marquis of La Romana.
• Three wines, three styles: Taste one white, one rosé, and one red with simple local snacks.
• More than a winery visit: See the Gaudí-style church and XII-century Mola Castle in Novelda.
• Comfortable transport: Ride from one of four Alicante pickup hotels in a clean car or van with bottled water.
• Small-group feel: The group is limited to 11 people, making the trip calmer than a large coach excursion.
• A compact half-day outing: The full experience lasts about three hours, with roughly two hours in Novelda.

Why this short trip works so well from Alicante

Alicante is easy to enjoy on foot, but the province has much more to offer beyond the city center. This outing takes you inland to Novelda, about 30 minutes away by car, without asking you to organize a rental car, find a designated driver, or work out a complicated regional bus connection.

The journey is part of the experience. As you leave the coast, your English-speaking guide can point out details about the surrounding countryside, agriculture, church, and castle. Guides named Yevgen and Stas have been especially praised for sending clear pickup instructions, arriving on time, and keeping the drive comfortable and informative.

The timing is sensible. Three hours is long enough to see something distinctive outside Alicante, yet short enough to fit around other plans. You are not spending half a day on the road for a short tasting. The outing is also useful for cruise passengers, since Meliá Alicante is one of the pickup options and is close to the cruise shuttle stop.

Pickup is available from Meliá Alicante, Hotel Albahía, Hotel Port Alicante City & Beach, and Hotel Travelodge Alicante Puerto. You receive the vehicle model and license plate before pickup, which is a small but helpful detail when you are waiting near a busy hotel entrance.

The drive to Novelda and the first sights

The trip follows a simple pattern: pickup in Alicante, a drive inland, sightseeing around Novelda, a winery visit and tasting, then return to your original pickup point. The exact order can vary, but many outings visit the church and castle before the winery.

The Church of Santa María Magdalena is the visual surprise. Its unusual design is often described as Gaudí-style, with curving forms and decorative details that make it very different from the more familiar churches around Alicante. The supplied information does not claim that Gaudí himself designed it, so think of it as an architectural work influenced by his style rather than a Gaudí monument.

Your guide gives you enough background to understand what you are seeing and usually allows time for photographs. On a clear day, the setting around the church and castle provides some of the best views of the outing. Bring a camera, as requested, and wear shoes suitable for walking over uneven ground near the castle.

Mola Castle dates from the XII century. It is not a vast fortress complex, and this is not a full archaeological tour. Instead, it is a short, worthwhile stop that adds medieval history to an excursion otherwise centered on wine and architecture. The castle and church work well together because they show two very different chapters of Novelda’s past.

The stops can be especially valuable if you have only seen Alicante city. You get a small taste of the inland province without committing to a full-day sightseeing program. The tradeoff is time. The church and castle are included as additional sightseeing stops, not as long, detailed guided visits.

Inside the 1707 winery

The winery is the heart of the outing. It occupies an old XVIII-century farmhouse and estate once belonging to the Marquis of La Romana. That setting gives the visit more character than a modern tasting room alone could provide.

You begin with the story of the estate and its wine production. The tour explains how organically grown grapes move through the winemaking process, from the vineyard to the bottle. This is useful even if you already know a little about wine because you can connect the historic rooms with the working stages of production.

The route includes the fermentation room, where grape juice begins its transformation into wine, the barrel room, where selected wines mature, and the bottling area, where the finished product is prepared. These are practical stops, not just decorative rooms, so the visit gives you a clearer idea of how a working winery operates.

The old rooms are one of the strongest parts of the experience. The setting has architectural appeal as well as agricultural purpose. You are not simply seated at a table and handed three glasses. You first see the place that produces the wine, then taste the result in the restaurant.

The vineyard itself is part of the visit, although the amount of time outdoors depends on weather and the schedule. Rain can prevent a proper look at the outside vines, and strong summer heat may make the indoor rooms more comfortable. Bottled water is provided in the vehicle, which is useful during hot Alicante afternoons.

One point to keep in mind is language. The transport guide speaks English, but the winery guide may be a different person. Most of the feedback describes the visit as clear and interesting, though one visitor found the winery guide difficult to understand. If wine education in English is your main reason for booking, it is worth keeping this possible variation in mind.

Tasting white, rosé, and red wine

The tasting includes three wines: white, rosé, and red. Each is explained as it is served, giving you a basic comparison of the styles rather than a single glass of one type.

The food is simple but welcome. Breadsticks, olives, and a tapa accompany the tasting. This is enough to make the session comfortable, but it is not a full lunch. You should plan another meal if you expect something substantial.

I like this arrangement because the tasting is tied to the winery visit. You have just seen the rooms and production process, so the glasses on the table feel connected to the place. The restaurant setting also gives the visit a relaxed finish, rather than ending immediately after a technical tour.

The tasting is not always a formal, highly detailed wine class. The amount of explanation can vary, and one account describes the session as more self-guided than expected. If you want a long lesson about grape varieties, soil, aging, and food pairing, this may feel light. If you want to sample three local wines in a pleasant setting, it should fit the bill.

You may be able to buy bottles, oils, or winery merchandise afterward. The purchase is optional, and the tasting does not require you to shop. Several people chose to take bottles with them for later in the week, which makes sense if you find a wine you enjoy and have room in your luggage.

Lunch is not included. You can ask about ordering at the restaurant, but it depends on available tables, the agreed waiting time with your driver, and whether the driver has another tour afterward. For a reliable schedule, treat lunch as a possible extra, not part of the package.

How the transport and guiding affect the experience

This is a small-group trip rather than a large bus excursion. The limit is 11 participants, and several bookings use a smaller number. That means pickup may take a little coordination, but once you are on the road the outing feels more personal.

The vehicles described in the feedback include clean, modern cars and vans. Water is supplied, and one guide used a clear microphone so everyone could hear during the drive. These details matter more than they might sound, especially when the road commentary includes place names and historical information.

Yevgen and Stas are the named guides associated with many departures. Their roles combine driver, escort, and local guide. They explain the area on the way to Novelda, help with the church and castle, and keep an eye on comfort during hot weather.

The service can go beyond the basic route. Several outings included the church and castle as a bonus stop, even when the main focus was the winery. You should not assume every departure will have extra time for additional stops, but the possibility adds value when the schedule allows.

The driving itself is another practical strength. One account specifically praised careful, defensive driving. That is important after a wine tasting, even though the amount served is limited. You can sample the wines without needing to navigate the return journey yourself.

Is $69 a fair price?

At $69 per person, the price is reasonable if you value convenience and several experiences in one outing. It includes round-trip transport, hotel pickup, a guided winery visit, access to the production rooms, three wines, snacks, bottled water, and the church and castle stops.

You are not paying only for a tasting. You are also paying for the car, the driver, the time saved by avoiding public transport, and the chance to see an inland part of Alicante that is not easy to combine independently in three hours.

The value is strongest for couples, solo visitors, and small groups who do not want to rent a car. It is also a practical choice if you are staying in Alicante for a short time or have already covered the main city sights.

The value is less clear if you expect a large meal, a long vineyard walk, or a specialist wine course. Lunch costs extra, the tasting is limited to three wines, and the church and castle stops are fairly brief. You are buying a compact local excursion, not a full-day wine-country program.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The activity is offered in English, with starting times depending on availability.

Who should book this Alicante winery trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want an easy way to see the countryside, enjoy a few local wines, and add architecture and medieval history to the day. It suits visitors who prefer a relaxed pace and do not need every minute filled with formal commentary.

It is particularly good for:

• Wine drinkers who want a working winery rather than only a city tasting bar
• Cruise passengers seeking a short excursion from Alicante
• Couples and small groups who value private-feeling transport
• Visitors who have already seen Alicante’s center
• Anyone who likes combining food, architecture, and local history

I would think twice if you use a wheelchair, since the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users. I would also choose another outing if your priority is an extensive vineyard walk, a full lunch, or a serious wine seminar.

Final verdict: a well-priced taste of inland Alicante

This is a strong half-day choice because it does not rely on one attraction alone. The 1707 winery gives the trip its character, the three-wine tasting provides a pleasant finish, and the Gaudí-style church and Mola Castle keep the outing from feeling like a single-purpose alcohol tour.

I especially like the clean transport, careful guiding, clear pickup communication, and small group limit. Just keep your expectations in line: the tasting is modest, lunch is extra, and the winery commentary may vary by guide.

Book this trip if you want a comfortable, well-organized look at Novelda and the Alicante countryside without renting a car. Skip it if you need wheelchair access or want a full-day wine education program.

FAQ

How long does the Alicante winery and Novelda tour last?

The experience lasts about three hours, including transportation from Alicante, sightseeing in Novelda, the winery visit, and the return trip.

What is the tour price?

The price is $69 per person.

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.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though you may be able to order at the winery restaurant if tables are available and the schedule permits.

Where can I be picked up?

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

Is transportation included?

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

Is the tour offered in English?

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

What else will I see besides the winery?

You will visit a Gaudí-style church and the medieval Castle of Mola in Novelda.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.