Wines of Valencia

Spanish famous wines

Spain is a wine country, full of wine regions that produce excellent wines. For sure you have heard about some of the most famous Spanish wine regions; Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Rías Baixas… but what about Valencia?

In this post, we will explain the fascinating wines that Valencia produces, which grapes are planted in Valencia and we will give you some recommendations to taste the terroir of Valencia.

About Valencia

Valencia is a region located on the southeastern Spanish coast, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is Spain's third-largest city and one of the country's most fascinating destinations.

If you are an adventurous foodie, a history buff or an art lover, you will find what you are looking for in Valencia.

Thanks to Spain's long and storied history, each city varies greatly, and Valencia is no exception. One of its main historical landmarks is that it was founded by the Romans.

In the year 138 BC. Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus founded Valencia which at that time had a couple of thousand Roman settlers. It wasn't until almost 900 years later that the Moroccan Moors and Arabs arrived and introduced their language, culture and customs.

Valencia has an exciting food culture, where paella is the landmark of the region. Of course, we can´t forget about the excellent tapas that we find in Valencia. All this food needs to be paired with some wine, and wineries in Valencia are always open for wine tasting sessions.

Wine tourism in the Valencia region can help you discover not only new, high-quality wines, but also towns, places and wineries with a long tradition and history behind them.

At every step we find small or large wineries that, out of love for the beauty of the place, have started to switch to sustainable agriculture even before it became a trend. In Valencia wineries are working hard to produce organic and biodynamic wines from organic grapes.  

It is almost a fusion between rural and nature tourism with a hint of gastronomic tourism.

Wine Culture

The wine culture in Valencia was introduced a long time ago by the Phoenicians, who introduced the first wine vines in Spain.

Over the centuries, the wine-growing activity has highly increased, and the export of wines from Valencia has been growing over the last few years.

There are three denominations of origin in the community of Valencia; D.O. Valencia, D.O. Utiel-Requena, and D.O. Alicante. 

D.O. Valencia has 13,000 hectares of vineyards and 93 wineries that are grouped under this designation that extends over four sub-zones: Alto Turia, Valentino, Clariano and Moscatel.

It is the denomination of origin in Valencia with the most varieties of grapes, with 7 types of red grapes and 6 white grapes used to make very attractive wines.

D.O. Utiel-Requena produced mostly red wines, from 9 municipalities in the west region of Valencia. In fact, 87% of the wine production is for red wines. The most common grapes are Bobal and Tempranillo.  

In addition, the Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin offers visitors different wine routes to discover its municipalities and wineries.

D.O. Alicante has a mild climate and the special composition of the soils of the Alicante region are conducive to the growth of grapes of the varieties Moscatel de Alejandría, Monastrell and Garnacha.

The result: a variety of red, white, rosé and sweet wines perfect for pairing with the traditional dishes of Alicante's gastronomy.

Valencian grape varieties

Bobal

Is a grape to make red wine that is mostly grown in the central part of Valencia and Levante. It is very popular in the denomination of origin Util-Requena, as it represents the 80% of the production of the area. There is also the white bobal variety, which is not very representative.

Wines made by the Bobal grape variety, are honest wines, with moderate alcohol content and good acidity.

They present a very intense violet-red colour wines, with a high robe. On the nose, the wines have high intensity on the nose, good complexity, and balance. The wines have notes of black fruits, such as raspberries and blackberries.

On the palate, it is a powerful wine, full-bodied with high-quality tannins, silky and very persistent in the mouth. The finish is elegant with a well-balanced acidity.

Monastrell

It is one of the best-known red varieties, widely cultivated in the southern areas of the Spanish peninsula. It has a great adaptation and resistance to drought and high temperatures.

It is very widespread all over the world, it is one of the typical varieties in the south of France and we can also find it in California and Australia.

Monastrell is referred to differently in other parts of the world depending on the wine region. It is also known as Alcayata, Balzac (France), Espar, Garrut, Mataro (Australia and Chipre), Morrastel, Mourvedre (France), Mourviedro, Negria (Greece), Plant de Saint-Gilles (France) and Rossola Nera (Italy).

Malvasia

This variety is well-known both nationally and internationally. It is a very peculiar and valued variety.

This variety produces very aromatic wines with fruity hints of apple and peach, hints of honey, some herbaceous nuances and with refined acidity.

Our Recommendations

If you want to try some of the hidden gems that the region of Valencia has to offer, we have selected the best natural wines that have followed organic winemaking.

Finca Terrerazo Bobal Organic 2018, is a very special certified organic wine from Valencia that belongs to the highest standard category in the Spanish wine classification, Vinos de Pago.

Finca Terrerazo Bobal Organic is an organic red wine produced by Bodega Mustiguillo, in the area of D.O. Utiel Requena.

The vines used in this Crianza wine were planted between 1945 and 1970 at an altitude of 800 meters. This great wine presents a dark colour with a markedly Mediterranean character.

On the nose, it has spicy dark fruits, black cherries, and toasted tones. On the palate, it has volume, with a sweet and mineral sensation, a good fruit intensity, fruity acidity, and fine tannins. We recommend pairing it with red meat, stews and cheese. We suggest decanting the wines 1 hour before serving them. 

Fuenteseca Blanco organic 2019 is an organic white wine from the D.O. Utiel-Requena, produced by Bodega Sierra Norte. It is a blend of Macabeo and Sauvignon Blanc.

The grapes have been harvested sustainably and the whole production has followed the highest standard of sustainability with the environment.

This wine has a pale yellow colour with bright, clean, green glints. On the nose, it presents aromas of white flowers, tropical fruit, apricot peel and fennel come through.

On the palate, it is fresh and full. This wine is complex and elegant, with a perfumed finish. We recommend pairing it with fish, seafood and appetizers. 

Mariluna Blanco Organic 2019 is an organic wine from de D.O. Valencia. It is produced by Bodega Sierra Norte, a winery that is extremely focused on producing sustainable wines.

This wine has a bright, clean, straw-yellow colour. On the nose, it presents notes of white flowers, citrus, and apricot. On the palate, it is pleasant with good acidity and a long aftertaste.

We recommend pairing it with appetizers or very light starters, white fish, seafood, fresh cheeses, and salads.

If we have aroused your curiosity and you want to discover the flavours of Valencia, it's easier than it may seem. In just a few clicks you can order Valencian wines and discover the fragrance of the region's most famous grape varieties.

And if you're not going to stick to just one region or country, explore our shop and choose which vineyard's bottled story you'll enjoy tomorrow.

For tips and trics on choosing wines you can write to us. You can do the same if you know of a Valencian wine that has impressed you and that we haven't discovered yet.

See you next time, wine lovers,

Dis&Dis Team