Alicante/Benidorm: Wine tasting tour,transfer,La Mola Castle

Wine and stone villages make a fine pairing. This short Alicante excursion combines a winery visit in Novelda with three tastings, vineyard views, La Mola Castle, and the unusual Church of Santa Maria Magdalena. I like the small group of up to seven people and the convenience of hotel pickup and drop-off from Alicante, Benidorm, Santa Pola, and nearby resorts. I also like that the tour shows working production areas rather than offering only a tasting at a table.

The main catch is the price. The advertised cost is $53 per person, but the winery entrance costs an extra 11 euros per person and is paid on site. I would also keep expectations measured: the winery visit lasts about 1.5 hours, and one past participant found the guide spoke too quickly and rushed parts of the tasting.

Key points at a glance

• The extra winery fee matters: Add 11 euros per person to the advertised $53 price before comparing this tour with other day trips.
• The winery is in Novelda: You visit vineyards, fermentation rooms, barrel storage, and the bottling area near Alicante.
• Three wines are included: The tasting comes with small snacks, followed by a chance to buy bottles from the winery shop.
• La Mola adds history and views: You stroll through a 12th-century castle after the winery visit.
• The church is unusual: Santa Maria Magdalena was built by a pupil of Antoni Gaudí and gives the outing a memorable architectural stop.
• Transport is a real advantage: Pickup and return are available at many hotels and meeting points in Alicante, Benidorm, Santa Pola, Gran Alacant, and nearby areas.

What the $53 price really covers

At first glance, $53 sounds like a reasonable price for a half-day trip with transport, wine, and historic sights. The real cost is higher because entrance to the winery is not included. Add the required 11 euro payment at the winery, and you are looking at $53 plus 11 euros per person.

I would still call that fair value if you want an easy outing without arranging a rental car. Your package includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a guided winery tour, vineyard access, production areas, three wines, snacks, the Gaudí-influenced church, and La Mola Castle. The small group limit also gives the trip a more personal feel than a large coach excursion.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a long wine tasting. The full activity lasts about 3 to 3.5 hours, while the winery portion is listed at around 1.5 hours. Much of the remaining time goes to transport and the two cultural stops. That mix is useful, but it is not a full-day wine country visit.

Pickup from Alicante, Benidorm, and Santa Pola

This tour is designed around shared pickup points. You can select from a long list of locations, including Meliá Alicante, Meliá Benidorm, Hotel Maya Alicante, Hotel NH Alicante, Hotel Port Alicante City & Beach, Gran Hotel Bali, Hotel Almirante, Hotel Albahía, and Marina Resort Benidorm.

There are also pickup points at the Valor Chocolate Museum, Pola Park, Gran Alacant, Santa Pola’s Varadero Restaurante, Supermercado UNIDE MARKET, and other listed hotels. That range is useful if you are staying outside the central parts of Alicante or Benidorm.

I would check your exact collection point carefully before booking. The tour does not promise pickup from every address, and choosing a listed point may be necessary. Return transport is available to the same general group of locations, which removes the need to find a taxi after the castle visit.

The small group size, limited to seven people, is one of the strongest features here. A compact vehicle and a few fellow passengers usually make a short outing easier than a large bus trip. Still, the exact feel depends on the guide and driver. One past participant praised the driver for collecting them outside their home instead of only at the assigned meeting place, but that should be treated as a pleasant exception rather than a guaranteed service.

Novelda and the Vinalopó wine country

The winery visit takes place in Novelda, part of the Vinalopó wine region. The area gives you a different view of the Valencian Community, away from the apartment blocks and beaches of Alicante and Benidorm.

You begin with an introduction to the winery’s history and production methods. The tour explains the process from organic grape growing through fermentation, barrel storage, bottling, and the finished bottle. This is the useful part for anyone who likes to understand what sits behind a glass of wine.

You are taken into production areas that can include:

• The vineyards
• The fermentation workshop
• The barrel warehouse
• The bottling workshop
• The winery store

The chance to see these working spaces gives the visit more substance than a simple tasting room stop. You can connect the vineyard to the tanks, barrels, labels, and bottles you see later. I especially like that the tour includes production areas, since that helps you understand why winemaking takes more than simply harvesting grapes and filling bottles.

The outdoor portion requires sensible clothing. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and use sunscreen and a hat in warm weather. The tour information specifically recommends checking the forecast, which is good advice for walking among the vines. A camera is also useful for the countryside views.

The winery’s entrance fee includes access to this guided visit and is paid separately on site. The wording about the 11 euro charge is repeated several times in the booking information, so do not assume the advertised price already includes it.

Tasting three wines with small snacks

After the production tour, you taste three different wines. Small snacks are provided, giving you something to eat alongside the pours, though the information does not describe the snacks as a full meal.

This is a modest tasting rather than a long food-and-wine pairing session. I would plan to eat before the tour if you need a proper lunch, especially since the activity lasts only a few hours and the included food is described as small snacks.

The tasting should be a good fit if you are new to Spanish wine or want a simple introduction to local bottles. The guide explains the winery and its methods before you taste, so you have some context for what is in the glass. You can also buy your preferred wine at the winery shop at the end.

One point deserves attention. A past participant found the guide spoke too fast, hurried through the rooms, presented only the first wine, and then was not present for the rest of the tasting. That does not prove every departure will be handled this way, but it is a useful warning. If you have trouble following the pace, ask the guide to slow down or clarify the tasting sequence early.

The tour is offered in English, Russian, and Spanish. The quality of the explanation may depend on the language selected and the guide assigned on your date. If learning about wine is your main reason for booking, this is the part where guide communication matters most.

Santa Maria Magdalena Church and Gaudí’s influence

The cultural portion includes the Church of Santa Maria Magdalena on a hill. It was built by a pupil of Antoni Gaudí, which gives the building an unusual connection to Barcelona’s famous architectural tradition.

The church adds visual variety to the trip. After seeing tanks, barrels, bottles, and vineyards, you move to a distinctive religious building set above the surrounding area. The hill setting also gives you a chance to enjoy the scenery around Novelda.

The supplied information calls the church beautiful and identifies its Gaudí style. It does not provide a detailed interior visit, opening schedule, or length of time spent inside. I would therefore treat this as a sightseeing stop rather than plan the day around a long architectural tour.

Comfortable footwear matters here as well. You are combining vineyard walking with a hilltop church and a castle, so this is not the place for flimsy sandals or shoes that you cannot walk in for several hours.

La Mola Castle and a 12th-century setting

The final major stop is La Mola Castle, a medieval fortress dating from the 12th century. Its hilltop location links the history of the area with the views across the Vinalopó region.

I like the way this stop rounds out the outing. The winery gives you local agriculture and production. The church gives you architecture. La Mola supplies a medieval setting and a chance to walk through historic stonework. You get three different subjects in a short period rather than one narrow activity.

The trade-off is time. Since the entire experience lasts only 3 to 3.5 hours and includes transport, the castle visit is likely to be a compact stroll rather than an extended fortress exploration. The information does not state how long you spend inside the castle or list every accessible section.

If you want a relaxed castle day with time for every rampart and room, this may feel brief. If you want to add a historic site to a winery trip without committing a full day, the stop makes good sense.

How the itinerary feels from start to finish

The day follows a straightforward pattern:

1. You meet the vehicle at a selected pickup location in Alicante, Benidorm, Santa Pola, Gran Alacant, or nearby.
2. You travel to Novelda for the winery visit.
3. You tour the vineyards and production areas with a guide.
4. You taste three wines with small snacks.
5. You can purchase bottles from the winery shop.
6. You visit Santa Maria Magdalena Church.
7. You stroll through La Mola Castle.
8. You return to one of the listed drop-off points.

The plan works because the stops are close enough to fit into a half-day format. You do not have to organize separate taxis, winery reservations, or castle transport. The limitation is that each stop receives only part of the day, so you should expect an introduction rather than an exhaustive visit.

Who will enjoy this outing most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a simple way to see Alicante’s inland scenery without renting a car. It suits couples, small groups, and solo visitors who enjoy wine but also want architecture and history in the same outing.

It is also a good option if you are staying in Benidorm and want a break from the coast. The Vinalopó setting gives you a look at the wider Valencian Community, while the church and castle keep the trip from feeling like a production tour only.

You may want to choose another activity if you need wheelchair access, since the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also not recommended for people with back problems or pregnant women. Pets and smoking are not allowed.

Anyone with limited walking ability should read the plan carefully. The combination of vineyards, a hilltop church, and a medieval castle means uneven surfaces and walking are likely, even though the precise distances are not provided.

Practical advice before you go

Wear comfortable shoes with good support. A hat, sunscreen, water, and a camera are specifically recommended, and I would take that advice seriously during warm weather.

Keep your schedule flexible around the pickup. The tour offers pickup and drop-off, but the exact collection time must be checked when you select availability. The duration is listed as 3 to 3.5 hours, not one fixed length for every departure.

Bring enough money or a payment method for the separate 11 euro winery entrance fee. You may also want room in your luggage for a bottle from the winery shop, although the provided information does not specify shipping or baggage arrangements.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Alicante or Benidorm plans are still changing.

Should you book the Alicante wine and castle tour?

I would book it if you want convenient transport, a small group, three wines, and two unusual cultural stops in one short outing. The strongest points are the working winery visit, the compact group size, the broad pickup network, and the combination of wine with La Mola Castle and the Gaudí-linked church.

I would pause if the extra 11 euro fee changes the value for you, or if you want a slow, detailed wine seminar. The tasting is brief, the snacks are small, and guide quality can affect how clearly the wine presentation comes across.

For a half-day introduction to Novelda and the Vinalopó wine area, this is a sensible choice. Just budget for the added winery entrance, wear proper walking shoes, and go in expecting a brisk sampler of wine, architecture, and medieval history rather than a leisurely full-day vineyard escape.

FAQ

Where does the wine tour take place?

The winery visit takes place in Novelda, near Alicante, in the Vinalopó wine region.

How long does the experience last?

The total duration is approximately 3 to 3.5 hours. The guided winery visit is listed as lasting about 1.5 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The advertised price is $53 per person. Entrance to the winery costs an additional 11 euros per person and is paid at the winery.

Are three wines included?

Yes. The experience includes a tasting of three wines with small snacks.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available from selected hotels and meeting points in Alicante, Benidorm, Santa Pola, Gran Alacant, and nearby areas.

Which languages are available?

The tour is offered in English, Russian, and Spanish.

What can you see at the winery?

You can visit the vineyards and production areas, including the fermentation workshop, barrel warehouse, and bottling workshop.

Can you buy wine after the tasting?

Yes. You have the opportunity to purchase your favorite wine at the winery store.

Does the tour include La Mola Castle?

Yes. The experience includes a visit to the 12th-century La Mola Castle.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users. It is also not recommended for pregnant women or people with back problems.