The Albir Wine Lover returns to the Eucalyptus Park on Friday, September 4, 2026, from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am, and it is, without exaggeration, the best night of the year to discover wine in Albir. It’s the fifth edition of the biggest food-and-wine event in l’Alfàs del Pi, and this guide tells you everything: what it is, how much it costs, how to buy tickets, what you’ll taste and eat, how to get there, and how to make the most of it — whether you’re visiting for the first time or you’ve been heading down to the park every September for years.
I’ve been living in Albir since 2007. This isn’t some recycled press release: it’s what a neighbor would tell you if you ran into them on the promenade and they saw you wondering whether it’s worth it. Spoiler: it’s worth it. But let’s take it step by step, because there’s a lot to cover and I want you to leave here knowing it all.
The Albir Wine Lover is an annual wine, food, and culture event held every September in Eucalyptus Park, right in the heart of Albir. On paper, the idea is simple: you pay for a ticket that includes a glass — which you take home as a keepsake — and a set of drink tokens, and with those you make your way around the winery stands to taste wines, cavas, and vermouths, and the food stalls to pair each glass with something to eat. Live music plays in the background. And throughout the night, there are raffles.
But saying just that falls short, because what makes the Albir Wine Lover special isn’t the formula — which plenty of events share — but the execution and the setting. This isn’t some indoor pavilion lit up with neon lights. You’re heading to a park of nearly hundred-year-old eucalyptus trees, just steps from the sea, with strings of lights hanging between the branches, on an early-September night when the summer heat has already eased off. It’s a farewell to summer with a glass in hand, and that’s exactly the spirit the organizers have been going for from the start.
And there’s something else that sets it apart from any run-of-the-mill wine fair: the crowd. Albir brings together people from half the world, so at the same bar you’ll run into Norwegians, Brits, Belgians, Dutch, Germans, and Spaniards all raising a glass at once. That international atmosphere, which feels completely natural here, gives the event a flavor few local gatherings have — and it’s something that catches visitors from elsewhere off guard.
If you’re a tourist or visiting from out of town, the Albir Wine Lover is the best way to get to know Albir in a single night. In just a few hours you’ll taste wines from all over Spain, eat local produce, hear four languages around you, and see what life here in this corner of the Costa Blanca is really like. It’s also a plan that fits perfectly into a wine-tourism weekend I’ll suggest further down. You come for the wine and you leave having gotten to know the town.
If you’re a local, this is already on your calendar. For you, what matters most is what’s new each year — the alcohol-free additions, the wineries that rotate in, the locally pressed oils — and the fact that it’s one of those rare nights when the whole town, in all its diversity, ends up in the same place. It’s as much a food-and-wine event as it is a social reunion. And if you’ve got friends or family visiting in September, it’s your winning card for showing them where you live without having to explain a thing.
For both kinds of visitor, the common denominator is the same: good wine, good food, a great atmosphere, and a setting that’s hard to beat.
When, where, and how much it costs (2026 edition)
The concrete details, which is what most people look for first:
- • Date: Friday, September 4, 2026.
- • Time: 7:00 pm to 1:00 am.
- • Location: Eucalyptus Park, Passatge J. Strauss, 6, Albir (l’Alfàs del Pi, Alicante).
- • Advance tickets: €20 until September 3.
- • Tickets at the door: €25 on the day of the event.
- • Capacity: limited.
- • Official website: albirwinelover.es · Instagram: @albirwinelover.
The ticket includes the commemorative glass and the drink tokens you later redeem at the stands. That five-euro gap between buying in advance and buying at the door isn’t a whim: the organizers reward those who plan ahead, because capacity is limited and past editions have sold out completely. The takeaway is just common sense: if you’re planning to go, buy early and skip the risk of being turned away.
For 2026, advance sales kicked off in early August. You’ve got two options: online through the official website, albirwinelover.es, or in person at shops around the area.
In Albir, you’ll usually find them at the Tourist Office, Atmósfera Sport, Zeta Zeta, Villas Alfaz, Camping Cap-Blanch, and Zawa Lounge. In l’Alfàs del Pi, at Electricidad Gustavo Moreno, Ze Black, The Hub Business Centre, Cañas & Coffee, Supermercado Mendoza, the El Canto stationery-bookshop, the Asociación de Voluntariado Social, and Bricol. And outside the municipality: in Benidorm through PRG Coaching Inmobiliario, in Villajoyosa at Cata Vinos, and for Finestrat and Altea, via Corazón Exprés by reservation.
A useful heads-up, especially if you’re coming from out of town: physical points of sale shift slightly from year to year. Don’t trust an old list. Before heading to a specific spot, double-check the official website or the event’s Instagram, since that’s where they post the updated information. If you’re outside the area, buying online is simply the easiest option.
How a night at the event works: the mechanics worth understanding
This part is mainly for anyone who’s never been, because knowing how it works saves you from rookie mistakes.
When you enter, you get your glass and your drink tokens. The glass is yours for the whole night — you carry it from stand to stand — and it’s what the wineries fill when you hand over a token. Every drink, whether it’s a glass of wine, a vermouth, or a bite at the food stalls, is paid for with those tokens. Once you run out, you can buy more on site.
The practical advice anyone who’s already been would give you: don’t blow through all your tokens at the first three stands. Take a lap first, see what wineries are there, what catches your eye, and pace yourself. There are more than fifty wineries and hundreds of wines; part of the fun is discovering, not repeating the first thing you try. And eat. It’s a wine event that runs for hours: pacing yourself with food isn’t optional if you want to make it to one in the morning in one piece.
Why Eucalyptus Park and nowhere else
This is something I know inside and out. Eucalyptus Park is a stone’s throw from the beach, right in the heart of Albir, and it’s the space the town uses for almost everything that matters: concerts, fairs, festivals. Its eucalyptus trees are enormous; they cast generous shade by day and turn into the venue’s natural ceiling by night, with lights strung between the branches creating that warm atmosphere that suits an event like this so well.
For the Albir Wine Lover, it’s the perfect spot for three specific reasons. The first is size: it holds plenty of people without feeling crowded, but not so many that you lose that close-knit party atmosphere. The second is location: you’re just steps from the seafront promenade and the beach, so the night doesn’t have to end when the stands close. And the third, which matters more than it seems, is the breeze: in September, an open-air venue by the sea is infinitely more comfortable than an enclosed space.
If you’re coming from out of town and can’t quite place it on the map, it’s simple: look for Albir’s beach area and head one block inland along Passatge J. Strauss. It’s right there — impossible to miss.
The history: from “La Nit del Vi” to a landmark event for the region
The event wasn’t born with the name it carries today, and its history explains a lot about how it’s grown into what it is now.
2022 — The first night. It all started on Saturday, September 3, 2022, under the name “La Nit del Vi,” a wine and food fair packed into a single night in Eucalyptus Park. It was driven by the food group Comer BBB, the company DatUp Events, and COEMPA, with backing from the Town Council. Even that debut edition aimed high: about fifty wineries, around 150 wine labels, guided tastings, and live music. The municipal report spoke of strong turnout and participation, and the award for best exhibitor at that first edition went to The Royal BBQ.
2023 — The name is born and it takes off. In 2023 the event was rebranded as Albir Wine Lover and took a big leap: it went from one night to two days, Friday the 1st and Saturday the 2nd of September. And it performed better than expected. Despite a forecast of rain and wind, more than 4,000 people came through the park over the weekend, beating the previous year’s attendance by more than 30%. That edition brought together around twenty wineries with real weight behind their names —Enrique Mendoza, Bocopa, MG Wines, Antonio Alcaraz, Freixenet, Azpilicueta— and about twenty food stands.
2024 — El año de frenar para mejorar. En 2024 la organización tomó una decisión que dice mucho de su criterio: en lugar de crecer, ajustar. Volvieron a una sola jornada, el viernes 6 de septiembre, y limitaron el aforo a 2.000 entradas para evitar las aglomeraciones de años anteriores y cuidar la experiencia. La entrada costó 15 € e incluía la copa, cuatro degustaciones y un número para el sorteo. Se agotaron todas las entradas y asistieron más de 2.000 personas. No todo salió perfecto: hubo quejas porque algunas bodegas se quedaron sin vino antes de tiempo, algo que la organización reconoció abiertamente y se comprometió a corregir. Ese año, además, parte de lo recaudado en los sorteos se destinó al Voluntariado Social de l’Alfàs del Pi.
2025 — The most complete edition yet. Friday, September 12, 2025 brought the most ambitious edition yet, with Bodegas Fincal now co-organizing alongside COEMPA. The numbers grew sharply: more than 50 wineries, over 250 wine labels, about 15 food stalls, and 16 catering stands. Tickets, at €20, included the glass and five drink tokens. And new additions arrived so that no one would be left out: an alcohol-free bar, a vermouth area, and two olive oil producers. The music came courtesy of Orquesta Gran Babylon, and the turnout was an absolute sellout.
2026 — The fifth edition. And so we arrive at September 4, 2026, keeping the tried-and-tested format that’s worked so well: same setting, same philosophy, and a formula the town already knows and looks forward to by now. Counting back to that first “Nit del Vi,” it’s been five years of almost uninterrupted growth. And it shows in every detail.
Who’s behind the event
Knowing who organizes this helps explain why it has the character it does.
The engine behind it is COEMPA, the l’Alfàs del Pi Association of Shops and Businesses, chaired by Silvio Monroy, with Amparo Díaz as vice-chair and the public face at the presentations. The fact that it’s the shopkeepers’ association running the show isn’t a minor detail: it means the event grew out of the local fabric, not some outside production company that lands, sets up shop, and leaves. That translates into authenticity, and it also means a good share of what you spend goes back, one way or another, to the town’s businesses.
Since 2025 the co-organizing role has fallen to Bodegas Fincal, a wine distribution company based in Villajoyosa, driven by Pedro Juan San Juan. He sums up the event’s philosophy in one simple idea: bring wine closer to the public in a relaxed setting, where people can discover wineries, talk to the person behind each label, and enjoy a night by the sea. And that philosophy shows: here, wine isn’t elitist, it’s approachable.
And then there’s the l’Alfàs del Pi Town Council, which is an active collaborator. Commerce councillor Patrick de Meirsman has pointed out that the event grows in quality and impact every year, and that it boosts local commerce while showcasing the municipality’s food and wine offerings. Behind that official-sounding line there’s something real: for Albir’s businesses, this one night is a top-tier showcase.
What you’ll taste and eat
Let’s get down to what really matters once you’re standing there with an empty glass.
Wine, and plenty of it. The heart of the event is variety. In its most complete edition, there were more than 250 references across reds, whites, rosés, sparkling wines, cavas, and vermouths, representing designations of origin from all over Spain. It’s not a three-label tasting to get by on: it’s a serious tour through national and local wineries, with enough range for a wine lover to truly enjoy it and for a beginner to learn without feeling out of place.
Wineries from here and from elsewhere. Local names have passed through the stands—Enrique Mendoza, the go-to winery from l’Alfàs itself—alongside Bocopa, MG Wines, and Antonio Alcaraz, plus top-tier national labels like Freixenet, Codorníu, Beronia, Azpilicueta, and Vicente Gandía. That mix of the local and the national is part of the charm: you try wine from your own region, and at the very next stand, a Ribera del Duero, a Rueda, or a Rioja. For anyone who loves discovering new things, it’s a feast.
Food to go with it. About 15 food stands, run by local businesses serving tapas and specialties at different price points. The key is pairing: every glass calls for its own bite, and here you’ve got both just steps apart. It’s also the smart way to make it through the whole night without things going sideways.
News for those who don’t drink wine. This is one of the smartest moves of the last few editions, and it’s worth highlighting. They’ve added a non-alcoholic drinks bar and a vermouth area, plus two olive oil mills —Señorío de Relleu and Campiñero— pairing their oils with bread. What does that mean in practice? That even if wine isn’t your thing, or you’re coming with someone who doesn’t drink, the plan still makes complete sense. It turns a wine fair into a genuine family outing, suited to almost everyone.
Music and raffles. The soundtrack comes from Orquesta Gran Babylon, live music that keeps the atmosphere going all night, and raffles are held throughout the evening. It’s the glue that keeps people around, chatting, and stretching the night out.
[YOUR ANECDOTE: this is where you drop in your own real experience from some edition —what you tasted, which winery surprised you, what the park was like that night, who you went with—. That’s what no other article about the Albir Wine Lover is going to have, and it’s what Google recognizes and rewards as genuine first-hand knowledge.]
There’s a detail that says a lot about how the town approaches this event. In 2025, 100% of what the merchandise stand raised went to the Alzheimer’s Association of the Marina Baixa. In 2024, part of the raffle proceeds went to the Voluntariado Social de l’Alfàs del Pi.
This isn’t the typical feel-good charity clause just for show. It’s a structural part of the event and fits with its nature: it’s run by local businesses, for the town, and part of the money goes back to the town. If you’re going to pick up some merchandise, keep in mind where that money goes. It’s one more reason to do it.
Esta parte es para quien quiera sacarle más jugo a la noche sabiendo qué tiene en la copa. Si solo vienes a pasarlo bien, puedes saltártela sin remordimientos. Pero si te gusta entender lo que bebes, aquí va el contexto que convierte una cata en una experiencia.
El Albir está en tierra de vino con historia larga. La DOP Alicante es una de las denominaciones más antiguas de España: se estableció en 1932 con el Estatuto del Vino, y su Consejo Regulador se creó en 1957. Sus dos grandes protagonistas son la uva Monastrell, que da tintos intensos, cálidos y con estructura —sobre todo en la zona del Vinalopó—, y la Moscatel de Alejandría, used to make very aromatic whites and sweet wines, more typical of the Marina Alta. If at the event someone offers you a house Monastrell, you’re drinking this land’s signature grape.
And then there’s the rare gem, the one that deserves a mention all its own: the FondillónIt’s a sweet, aged wine made from late-harvest Monastrell and aged for a minimum of ten years in oak barrels. It was a favorite among kings and appears in classic European literature, and today only a handful of wineries in the DOP Alicante, in the Vinalopó area, still make it. It’s one of the very few “historic” wines recognized as such anywhere in the world. If you come across a Fondillón at the Albir Wine Lover, stop and try it: it’s not a wine you see every day, and it’s part of this province’s heritage.
Albir, as it happens, has a direct link to this culture that a lot of people don’t know about. l’Alfàs del Pi is the first and only municipality in the Marina Baixa region to be part of the Alicante Wine Route., a route that links wineries, restaurants, hotels, and wine-tourism experiences across the whole province, from the Vinalopó in the south to the Marinas in the north. And the local point of reference is Enrique Mendoza Winery, founded in 1989, with its aging cellar right here in l’Alfàs, and vineyards in Villena. It’s one of the most prestigious names in the appellation and offers guided visits and tastings. So if the Albir Wine Lover leaves you wanting more, now you know where to go the next day.
The setting: Albir and l’Alfàs del Pi
The event doesn’t make sense without its setting, and Albir has something that goes well beyond a pretty beach. This matters especially if you’re coming from out of town and don’t know the area yet.
Let’s start with the beach, its calling card. El Racó de l’Albir, the town’s pebble beach, has held the Blue Flag for 36 consecutive years, putting it among the small handful of Spanish beaches recognized for excellence over such a sustained track record. That’s not brochure marketing: it’s an objective fact that speaks to the water quality, the services, and the cleanliness kept up for decades.
Desde el paseo marítimo arranca uno de los recorridos más queridos de toda la Costa Blanca: la ruta al Faro del Albir, un sendero accesible de unos 2,5 kilómetros que se adentra en el Parque Natural de la Serra Gelada, con vistas de la costa que quitan el sentido. Está distinguido con el sello Sendero Azul, es apto para casi todo el mundo y es de esos paseos que enganchan al que los descubre. Es, de hecho, el plan perfecto para la mañana siguiente al evento.
And then there’s the town’s international character, which is probably the most distinctive thing about it. More than a hundred nationalities live side by side in l’Alfàs del Pi, and a very large share of the population is foreign. The most striking case is the Norwegian community: L’Alfàs is home to one of the largest Norwegian colonies in the world outside Norway, with thousands of residents, their own club, school, church, and even celebrations for Norwegian Constitution Day every May 17th. That’s why, when you hear four languages spoken in the same line at the Albir Wine Lover, it’s not a coincidence or passing tourism: it’s the town as it is every single day.
Para quien se plantea vivir aquí, o pasar temporadas largas, un evento así es una ventana perfecta a cómo es la vida real en el Albir: la mezcla de gente, el ritmo, el ambiente de calle, la manera de socializar. Se aprende más en una noche en el parque de los Eucaliptos que en diez folletos inmobiliarios.
Cómo llegar al Albir (especialmente si vienes de fuera)
Si eres de la zona, salta este apartado. Si vienes de más lejos, esto te ahorra líos.
From Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC), Albir is about 55-60 kilometers away, roughly 45-50 minutes by car via the AP-7 or N-332. It’s the main airport and the one with the most connections. A rental car is the most direct option.
From Benidorm, you’re a stone’s throw away, just 10-15 minutes. And here’s a useful detail: the TRAM (Alicante’s line 9 tram) runs along the coast with a stop in l’Alfàs del Pi/Albir, so you can get around without a car between Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, and Alicante. For the event, if you’re staying in Benidorm or Altea, it’s a very convenient option so you don’t have to drive back.
If you’re coming by your own car, head toward l’Alfàs del Pi from the AP-7 or the N-332, then head down toward Albir’s beach area.
Where to park, and how to get back without driving
Let’s talk about the boring but important part, because parking in Albir in summer is a serious issue, and it’s even more so on the night of the event.
The organizers usually run a bus service from l’Alfàs del Pi to the venue, with departures from early evening and a last return after midnight. It’s by far the most convenient option, especially given the kind of event you’re heading to.
Si vienes en coche, hay aparcamientos públicos en la zona: cerca del campo de golf, el del mercadillo y el del supermercado Consum suelen ser los más socorridos. Llega con margen, porque las plazas cercanas al parque vuelan en cuanto empieza a caer la tarde.
And now for the common-sense part, the kind a neighbor would tell you straight to your face, no sugarcoating: if you’re going to drink, don’t drive. Take the bus, share a taxi, or, if you’re coming from out of town, just plan on booking a place to stay in Albir for the night. It’s not worth risking the drive home to save the cost of a hotel room.
Where to stay if you’re coming from out of town
If the plan is to come from elsewhere and stay the night — which is the smart move — Albir and the surrounding area have accommodation for every budget, from hotels right on the seafront promenade to well-equipped apartments and campsites. Staying near Eucalyptus Park means you can walk to the event and back without worrying about the car or a taxi.
[INTERNAL LINK: link here to your “where to stay in Albir” page or accommodation hub.]
Tips from someone who actually lives here
Here’s what I’d keep in mind this year, no filter:
Buy your ticket in advance. It’s not just about the five-euro difference. Capacity is limited, and there have been years when it sold out completely. Leave it for the day of and you’re gambling on getting shut out.
Go early if there are specific wineries you’re after. In past editions, some especially popular wines ran out before closing time. If you’ve got something particular in mind to try, don’t leave it until the last minute.
Pace your tickets. Don’t burn through them all at the start. Take a lap, see what’s there, and choose as you go. With more than fifty wineries, the fun is in discovering, not repeating the first thing you try.
Eat while you drink. It’s a multi-hour event. Grabbing tapas from the food stalls along the way isn’t a luxury, it’s what lets you enjoy the whole night properly.
Take advantage of the alcohol-free additions. The alcohol-free bar, the vermouth area, and the local olive oil producers mean the plan works even if you’re coming with family or with people who don’t drink wine. This isn’t an event just for wine buffs.
Bring something light to throw on. In early September the nights by the sea are pleasant, but once the small hours roll in and you’ve been outdoors for hours, a light jacket comes in handy.
If you want to round off the night, book a table. The event has its own food offerings, but if you feel like capping the night with a proper dinner, or eating beforehand, Albir has restaurants for every taste just minutes away. [INTERNAL LINK: link here to your Albir restaurants hub.]
How to turn it into a full wine-tourism weekend
How to turn it into a full wine-tourism weekend
This is where the Albir Wine Lover stops being just a loose night out and turns into a real plan, ideal if you’re coming from out of town.
On Friday, the Albir Wine Lover: wine, food, and atmosphere until one in the morning. On Saturday morning, the walk to the Albir Lighthouse to clear your head with the best views on the coast; it’s a gentle, spectacular stroll. At midday, a relaxed lunch on the seafront promenade. And in the afternoon, if the wine bug has bitten, a visit with a tasting at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, right here in l’Alfàs, to understand where some of what you tasted the night before comes from. On Sunday, the beach, a swim at Albir’s Racó, and recharging before you head back.
It’s a plan that combines what Albir does best: wine, food, nature, and the sea, all within a few kilometers of each other. And unlike the more crowded destinations along the coast, here you can do it all without the hassle and at a human pace. That’s precisely the great value of this corner of the world.
The weather in early September, and what to pack
September is, for many, the best month of the year on the Costa Blanca. The peak summer heat has eased off, the sea is still plenty warm for a swim, and the nights are pleasant. For the event, that translates into a comfortable outdoor atmosphere.
Bring comfortable shoes — you’ll be standing and walking for several hours — a light jacket for the small hours, and if you’re staying overnight and taking advantage of the next morning for the beach or the lighthouse, the usual coastal-day kit: a cap, water, and sunscreen. You won’t need much more than that.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Albir Wine Lover 2026? Friday, September 4, 2026, from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am, in Eucalyptus Park in Albir.
How much does the ticket cost? €20 in advance sales until September 3, and €25 at the door on the day of the event. It includes the commemorative glass and drink tokens.
Do I need to buy the ticket in advance? It’s not mandatory, but it’s highly recommended: capacity is limited and past editions have sold out.
What does the ticket include? The glass, which you keep, and the initial drinks in the form of tokens, which you redeem at the stands. You can buy more tokens on site.
Is this an event just for wine experts? Not at all. There’s an alcohol-free bar, a vermouth area, locally pressed oils, and varied food options. It’s a plan designed for everyone, family-friendly and festive.
How do I get there without a car? There’s usually a bus service from l’Alfàs del Pi to the venue. And the TRAM (line 9) connects Albir with Benidorm, Altea, and Alicante if you’re staying nearby. Check the schedule on the event’s official website.
Where is Eucalyptus Park? At Passatge J. Strauss, 6, in the Albir beach area, just steps from the seafront promenade.
Can I bring kids? It’s an event with alcohol, but it has a family-friendly, open-air atmosphere, with alcohol-free and food options too. Many local families go. Use your judgment based on age and time of night.
In short
The Albir Wine Lover is, hands down, the best night of the year to discover wine in Albir. Five editions back it up, Eucalyptus Park gives it a setting that’s hard to beat, and the combination of wineries from here and across Spain, local food, alcohol-free additions, music, and an international atmosphere make it much more than just a wine fair.
If you live in the area, it’s already on your calendar, and you know it’s one of those rare nights when the whole town turns up in the same place. And if you’re visiting from out of town — or thinking about moving here — few nights will show you, more clearly and more enjoyably, what Albir is really like: its people, its pace, its way of having a good time.
September 4, in Eucalyptus Park, from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am. Buy your ticket early, come hungry and ready to enjoy yourself, and just go with it. See you there.
