If you haven’t yet booked your summer holidays, head on down to the Rioja Tapas Fantasticas festival on the Southbank – an award-winning – and free – festival, that will instantly transport you to sunny Spain.
The Spanish food and wine festival, now in its fifth year, celebrates produce from the popular Rioja region in the north-east of Spain. While away a couple of hours meandering around the stalls at Potters Fields Park, tasting a range of red, white and rose wines from some of Rioja’s most famous vineyards as well as tucking into delightful tapas dishes from London’s most-loved Spanish restaurants.
The 2 day festival, which runs over Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July, will be the best yet, with live cookery demonstrations by renowned Spanish chef José Pizarro and tasting workshops with wine connoisseurs Olly Smith and Susy Atkins.
Rioja Tapas Fantasticas, Potters Fields, Tooley Street /The Queenswalk, Southwark, London SE1 2AA. Saturday 12-8 pm, Sunday 12-6 pm. Free Entry. www.riojatapasfantasticas.co.uk
Visitors can purchase a wine glass on entry – which can then be exchanged for samples of top class Rioja wines. You will also be able to purchase tapas and glasses of wine from all exhibiting restaurants and wineries throughout the day.