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A wine lover’s guide to the Region of Valencia
From honeyed Moscatel to a powerful Fondillón, take a walk amid the vines and discover an unparalleled taste of the Region of Valencia
Think ‘Region of Valencia’ and three things spring to mind: a gorgeous coastline, vibrant cities and excellent wine. Authenticity and provenance are at the fore on this stretch of south-eastern Spain, and its vineyards are no different – three Protected Designation of Origin zones make it an oenophile’s paradise. With the grape harvest just around the corner, now is the best time to immerse yourself in the Region of Valencia’s rich heritage – we’ve pulled together highlights of the wine country to inspire your travels.
Fondillón in DO Alicante
The southernmost province of the region, Alicante boasts vineyards spanning fruit-forward monastrell to herbal grenache, but its pride and joy is Fondillón. A taste of Valencia’s winemaking legacy comes with every sip – the semi-sweet, natural pour is native to the Spanish Levante, and the city of Villena is the place to experience its history first-hand. An imposing, medieval castle, narrow streets and gothic churches will cover your culture fix before you stop off at Las Virtudes, a cooperative bodega, for an insider’s tour and closer look at the process of creating Fondillón (tastings included, of course). Plus, if you plan on following the Alicante Wine Route, this is a great place to kick off.
Moscatel in DO Valencia
Sandwiched between Huerta and the Serra Calderona peaks, Valencia’s sunny, Mediterranean climate is ideal for the production of floral Moscatel. Join an active wine tour in Cofrentes – a picturesque town with castle ruins perched atop an extinct volcano – with an agenda that covers visits to vineyards, sampling along the way, lunch in the valley including local sips paired with Valencian sausages, and a leisurely cruise down the river. And if it’s a wider scope of grapes you’re after – a citrusy verdil, perhaps – the wineries of nearby Ontinyent have got you covered.
Bobal in DO Utiel-Requena
The Utiel-Requena area covers some 40,000 hectares of sprawling vineyards, many of them focused on the full-bodied bobal. Head to Requena, where wine has been cultivated since the 7th century BC – the Wine Museum will lead you through the process as you tour cave-cellars and ancient presses. After, fuel up on local specialities at restaurant El Yantar La Cocina de Pilar – right around the corner – and don’t miss the celebrations at the city’s 72nd annual grape harvest festival. Intricately-decorated floats, traditional grape-treading sessions and wine tastings don’t even begin to cover it.
Variety in Castellón
Wine culture in Castellón dates back to the Roman era. And it’s one of diversity – indigenous varieties like macabeo, embolicaire and monastrell meet classics such as tempranillo and merlot in family-run wineries. Wander the winding streets of Vilafamés to find some of Spain’s most prestigious cellars, enveloped by rolling almond orchards, or pair your favourite pour with traditional mountain cuisine in Les Useres town – expect cured meat platters and wholesome stews slow-cooked over fire, with handmade figues albardaes (sponge cakes with figs) to follow.
For more information on wine tourism in the Region of Valencia, including inspiration to help you plan your trip, head over to enoturismo.comunitatvalenciana.com
Sponsored by Comunitat Valenciana - comunitatvalenciana.com
