▷ Requena Wine Tour | Utiel-Requena Wine Tasting Experience

Requena wine tour & tasting 1/2 Day

Option 1 or 2 wineries

Come on our Requena wine tour and explore the historic old bush vine vineyards, tasting some of the best organic wines of Utiel-Requena with a professional WSET/Sommelier who produces his own Bobal from a small centenary plot; explaining Spain’s grape varieties, organic viticulture and really learn about wine with a unique revealing behind the scenes tour. No tour is ever identical with personal attention & flexibility being our gold standard.

Meet the owners at the bodegas & appreciate their top wines gaining insight into the lesser understood Cava.

D.O Utiel-Requena is the largest, highest (600-900m) & the furthest inland of the Valencian D.O´s possessing great growing conditions.
It´s the rising star of the Valencian wine regions with a re-image of autoctono varieties like Bobal, Merseguera & rare grapes like Tortosi & Tardana. Good vintages & talented vintners have brought Utiel-Requena into a new era and is more relevant with wine critics praise than ever before!

Explore the Utiel-Requena wine region

The main grape is the autoctono Bobal red variety.. somewhat abandoned here a long time ago, providing identity and signature wines of structure & young, fresher styles.

The many old bush vines en secano (without irrigation) give uniqueness to the landscape; withstanding seasons…. seemingly immortal to the passing of time. Wines are varied from dry herbal rosé, lively Cava focusing on chardonney, rich whites tinged with subtle toast of new oak & red wines from noble grapes like Tempranillo, Garnacha, Syrah etc. complimenting Bobal as a single variety or coupage.

These wines now compete with more well known Spanish names and often outshine their competition!

Utiel-Requena wine tasting with winery owners

On the Requena wine tasting experience, we visit one or two unique wineries producing Organic wines; “generous” guided tastings of 5-9 quality dry wines & Cava including maridaje of DOP Embutido/cheese & estate olive oil. Ask about our own recent artisan wines!

You will always learn something new on my wine tours! Our “one” winery tour is a top Pago visit looking at the viticulture techniques, differences like hand vs. machine harvesting and concept of terroir…yes it´s not imagination as recent science proves in Bordeaux! A private visit of the winery explaining how they make their wine and Cava (the Spanish Champan)…more of a mini 101 wine education with interesting facts from grape to bottle.

We explain each stage from grape selection, destemming or whole bunches, fermentation/yeasts & the various techniques of making the wines.

You will learn more about oak barrel aging, differences in USA vs French and these nuances in wine!

Down to the Cava cellar & gain insight into how it still is an unchanged art…you often witness degorge & final corking take place…the journeys end before you drink it!

The property varias but often includes a visit through the original owners home/bodega or game lodge.

The tasting is a selection of min. 5 of the best wines & Cava of the winery, complimented with local cured cheese, charcouteria & also taste the estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

The Pago visit is approx 2.5hrs with many features to appreciate.

The “two” wineries tour we also visit another unique bodega, a shorter duration fully guided tour of the bodega with 4-5 wines tasted inc. maridaje & varies from a smaller artisan cellar or an acclaimed family winery of status with wines, Cavas & eclectic natural wines chosen to suit our itinerary.

Note- we may substitute a winery for another on par quality estate as our private visits are by appointment & not always available 365 days/year.

Although we have just outlined the visit here it is not a typical wine tour and I believe this is a unique experience....even for a seasoned wine buff.

Local products, history & gastronomy of Requena

Travelling through a rolling landscape of vines, almond & olive trees it´s a territory steeped in history of viticulture from Phoenican times. We include a short walkabout visit to La Villa de Requena; 10thC Castle, Plaza, Moors caves & Gothic churches of the conquest with opportunity to shop for artisan local products (cured sausages, cheese, honey etc).

Requena has it´s own DOP for embutido with own recipes like “chorizo marinated in Cava” or “salchichon & walnuts”… local delicatessen at great prices.

Utiel-Requena with almost 40,000 hectares in vines is 2nd largest producer of wine in Spain. Requena is located 70km from Valencia city.

Utiel-Requena wine tour & tasting from Valencia

We offer Requena wine tours and tasting for small groups from Valencia. Tours are guided by myself Toni & the winery in English, so you are assured of a good understanding of wine & historical knowledge of the region in comfortable transport. Well connected by autovia it’s a journey of just under an hour from the city.

Requena is a town rich in history and culture with a tradition of winemaking dating from Phoenician times.

The gastronomy is famous for strong, hearty dishes & its artisan cured sausages, largely prepared by hand using natural ingredients. Amongst the popular fiestas praising these products, the “Fiesta de la Vendimia” & the “Feria del Embutido” (Sausage Fair) are important social events for local Valencians.