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

A winery founded in 1707, a Gaudí-style church, and a medieval castle make this a remarkably full three-hour outing from Alicante. You leave the city behind for Novelda, where the old estate and Bodega Casa Sicilla offer a pleasant look at local wine production without requiring a full day on the road.

I like the small group size, capped at 11, and the easy hotel pickup in a clean, modern car. I also like the guides’ personal touch. Yevgen and Stas have earned praise for clear communication, safe driving, local explanations, and even useful extras such as bottled water and photos.

The main consideration is time. Three hours passes quickly, and the winery tasting is more of a guided introduction than a long wine seminar. The winery guide may also be harder to understand than the English-speaking driver, so serious wine students may want a more technical tasting.

Key points to know before booking

• A working winery with 1707 origins: Explore the old farmhouse, fermentation room, barrel room, bottling area, and vineyard.
• Three wines and simple snacks: Taste one white, one rosé, and one red with breadsticks, olives, and a tapa.
• Two worthwhile bonus sights: See the Gaudí-style Church of the Magdalena and the 12th-century Castle of Mola near Novelda.
• Comfortable transport from Alicante: Pickup is available at four hotels, with bottled water provided in the car.
• A genuinely small group: The limit of 11 makes the drive and commentary more personal than a large coach tour.
• Best for a relaxed half-day: You get countryside, architecture, wine, and return transport without arranging a rental car.

Leaving Alicante for Novelda

The tour begins with pickup at one of four Alicante hotels: Meliá Alicante, Hotel Albahía, Hotel Port Alicante City & Beach, or Travelodge Alicante Puerto. You receive the vehicle model and license plate before pickup, a useful detail when several cars may be arriving around the same time.

The drive to the Novelda area takes about 30 minutes. That is long enough to see Alicante province change from city streets to open countryside, but short enough that you do not spend the day sitting in a vehicle. Guides such as Yevgen and Stas have been praised for explaining the area, agriculture, castle, and church along the way.

The car format is a real advantage here. You are not navigating unfamiliar roads, looking for parking, or trying to fit winery visits around regional bus schedules. The vehicles used by the guides have been described as modern, clean, and comfortable, and bottled water is supplied.

There are a few rules to keep in mind. Smoking, food, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed in the vehicle. The tour is also not suitable for wheelchair users, so anyone with mobility concerns should check carefully before booking.

The Church of the Magdalena and Castle of Mola

The Novelda area is known for two striking sights that give this outing more variety than a basic winery visit. The Church of the Magdalena is built in a Gaudí-inspired style, with unusual shapes and decorative details that make it an excellent photo stop.

You should not expect a full architectural lecture lasting an hour. The visit is brief, but the guide gives enough background to help you understand what you are seeing. Several guides, especially Yevgen and Stas, have been praised for making this stop easy to appreciate without dragging out the schedule.

The church has a strong visual impact, particularly if you enjoy unusual architecture. It also makes a good contrast with the winery. One stop is decorative and imaginative, the other is tied to farming, storage, and production.

Nearby Castle of Mola dates from the 12th century. Its remains offer another change of pace, with views over the surrounding countryside and a direct connection to the area’s medieval past. The stop is not a full castle tour, so set your expectations accordingly. You get a short visit and useful orientation rather than a long archaeological program.

The church and castle are described as a bonus in the experience, but they have become an important part of what makes this trip appealing. Some drivers have added the stops even when they were not originally central to the winery visit. If your schedule is tight, the guide will keep things moving. If you want long periods at each monument, this is not the right format.

Entering the old winery founded in 1707

The centerpiece is the old winery and farmhouse, an 18th-century estate that belonged to the Marquis of La Romana. The age of the property gives the visit character. You are not simply shown a modern tasting room and a row of bottles. You move through a place connected to agricultural production over several centuries.

The exact pace can vary, but the guided visit includes the vineyard, old house, and main production spaces. You see the fermentation room, barrel room, and bottling area. This helps you follow the wine from grape to finished bottle instead of treating the tasting as an isolated activity.

The organic grapes are part of the explanation of the production process. You learn how the fruit moves through fermentation and aging before bottling. The tour is suitable for people who know very little about wine because the process is explained in straightforward stages.

I especially like that the winery remains tied to its working purpose. The old rooms are beautiful, but this is not only a heritage building visit. You are being shown the practical parts of winemaking too, including where wine ferments, where it rests in barrels, and where it is prepared for sale.

One point to bear in mind is that the winery’s own guide leads this section, while your driver usually provides the broader commentary about Alicante and Novelda. English communication has generally been strong with the drivers, though one visitor found the winery guide difficult to understand. If detailed spoken English matters to you, it is worth keeping that possible variation in mind.

Three wines at the restaurant

The tasting includes three wines: white, rosé, and red. Each is explained as you taste it, giving you a simple way to compare different styles from the same producer.

You also receive breadsticks, olives, and a tapa. These snacks are modest but useful, especially since the tasting takes place around a meal period for some pickup times. They help make the experience feel like a social tasting rather than three small pours in isolation.

The restaurant setting adds to the pleasure. You can sit down, take your time, and enjoy the wines in a comfortable setting after walking through the production rooms. The tasting is not described as a formal sommelier class, so I would book it for a pleasant introduction to local wine rather than an advanced lesson in grape varieties, soil, or vintage comparison.

The wines have received particularly strong praise, and several people chose to buy bottles afterward. The winery shop offers the tasted wines along with other bottles, olive oil, and vineyard merchandise. There is no pressure to purchase, which is helpful if you want to browse without turning the tasting into a sales pitch.

Lunch is not included. You may be able to order it at the restaurant if tables are available, but this depends on space, the agreed waiting time with your driver, and whether another tour follows. If lunch matters to you, arrange it in advance through the private tour option rather than assuming it will be available on the day.

That distinction matters. The included tasting snacks can carry you through a short morning or afternoon outing, but they are not a substitute for lunch. Eat beforehand if you tend to get hungry, particularly if your pickup time falls close to midday.

Why the small group and driver matter

With a maximum of 11 participants, this is much more personal than a coach excursion. You can hear the guide more easily, ask questions during the drive, and get help with the practical details of the day.

The driver is not only there to operate the car. Yevgen and Stas have been praised for arriving on time, sending clear pickup instructions, driving carefully, and sharing facts about Alicante and the surrounding area. One especially useful feature is the message sent before pickup with the meeting time and vehicle details.

The guides have also been praised for small acts of attention. Bottled water is provided, which matters during hot weather, and one guide took photos for the group and shared them afterward. Those details are not the main reason to book, but they can make a short excursion feel well organized.

The vehicle rules are sensible but worth noting. You cannot bring food or drinks into the car, and alcohol stays at the winery. If you buy bottles, check with the guide about carrying them appropriately for the return trip rather than opening anything in the vehicle.

Is $69 a fair price?

At $69 per person, the value depends on how you would otherwise reach Novelda. The price includes round-trip transport, an English-speaking guide, the winery and farmhouse visit, the production areas, three wines, snacks, bottled water, and the church and castle stops.

That is a fair package for someone who wants a simple way to see more of Alicante province. A rental car would add driving duties, parking, fuel, and the need to plan the winery visit yourself. Public transport would not offer the same direct connection between the winery, church, and castle.

The tour is also efficient. In roughly three hours, you get countryside views, local architecture, a medieval site, a historic estate, and a tasting. You do not spend the entire day away from Alicante, which leaves room for the city’s beaches, restaurants, and old quarter.

The value is weaker if your main goal is a long, serious wine experience. You will not have hours among the vines, a large food pairing, or an extended technical tasting. The restaurant lunch costs extra, and availability is not guaranteed unless arranged in advance.

For most people, the strongest value comes from the combination. The winery alone might not justify a half-day for every visitor, but the church and castle add variety and make the drive worthwhile.

Who should book this Alicante wine tour?

I would recommend it to couples, small groups, cruise passengers, and visitors staying in Alicante who want an easy trip into the surrounding province. It works especially well for people who enjoy history and food but do not want a demanding full-day excursion.

Cruise passengers should consider using Meliá Alicante as the pickup point. One practical tip from the tour experience is that the cruise shuttle drops passengers only a short distance from that hotel, making it a convenient meeting place.

The outing also suits first-time visitors who want context beyond the city center. The drive, church, castle, and winery together show you a more rural side of the province. You gain a better sense of the area without committing to a long road trip.

I would be more cautious about booking if you use a wheelchair, need a fully accessible route, or want a serious wine education. The tour is also less suitable if you expect a long vineyard walk or a full restaurant meal included in the price.

Weather can affect the vineyard portion. Rain may prevent you from spending much time outside, though the indoor winery, church, and castle can still make the outing worthwhile. Bring a camera, as the old buildings, church details, and countryside provide the best photo opportunities.

What to know about booking and timing

The experience lasts three hours, with pickup and drop-off at the same group of Alicante hotels. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later.

The tour is conducted in English. Since the group is limited to 11, early booking is sensible during busy periods, particularly if you need a specific hotel pickup.

Wear comfortable shoes for the winery and monument stops. The supplied information does not specify a dress code or detailed walking distance, but the church, castle, vineyard, and production rooms mean you should be ready to walk on more than just smooth city pavement.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an easy, well-priced way to combine wine, architecture, and countryside in one short outing. The clean transport, strong driver service, small group, and useful bonus stops make it more than a simple tasting transfer.

Skip it if lunch, accessibility, or a long technical wine seminar is essential. For everyone else, especially visitors with only a few days in Alicante, this is a smart half-day choice. Yevgen and Stas have shown that the driver can make a real difference, and the 1707 winery gives the trip a genuine sense of place.

FAQ

How long does the Alicante winery tour last?

The experience lasts three hours, including transportation from Alicante, the visit to Novelda, the winery tour, wine tasting, and return drop-off.

Which wines are included in the tasting?

You taste three different wines: one white, one rosé, and one red. Breadsticks, olives, and a tapa are also included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the standard price. It may be ordered in advance through the private tour option, or requested at the winery if tables are available and the schedule allows enough waiting time.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available at Meliá Alicante, Hotel Albahía, Hotel Port Alicante City & Beach, and Hotel Travelodge Alicante Puerto. Return drop-off is available at the same four hotels.

Are the church and castle included?

Yes. The experience includes a visit to the Gaudí-style Church of the Magdalena and the medieval Castle of Mola near Novelda.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users.