Utiel-Requena, Wine region in Valencia Province, Spain
Utiel-Requena is a wine region in the Valencian Community, set on an inland plateau at considerable altitude. The terrain is covered mostly by vineyards, broken up by small villages and wineries of varying size scattered across the hills.
Winemaking in this area goes back to ancient times, with traces linked to Phoenician presence more than 2,600 years ago. The region grew into a key production center during the Roman period and kept that role through the medieval centuries.
The Bobal grape, grown almost everywhere here, is closely tied to village life, where the harvest sets the rhythm of autumn. Many producers still pick by hand, and visitors can follow the process from vine to barrel in a direct and unhurried way.
Visiting between September and November means the harvest is underway and wineries are at their most active. It is worth contacting producers ahead of time, as opening hours and tour availability differ from one place to the next.
Although Bobal is one of the most planted grape varieties in Spain, it remains largely unknown outside this region. Many of the oldest vines here are over 100 years old and still producing grapes today.
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