Utiel-Requena, the land of wine
Wine is without a doubt one of the most famous drinks of the Mediterranean culture. We are talking about a very ancient drink here that is still extremely popular today. Utiel and Requena both contribute to the greatest winemaking in Spain, foodies and fans alike will instantly recognise the exquisite taste of the wines from this area. In fact they are so famous, that they have more than 100 wine cellars. It wouldn’t be a real experience if they didn’t have museums that show you all about these wines and let you taste some of them.
Thousands of liters of wine are produced throughout Spain per year, but if we can narrow it down to one of the main producers, it would be Utiel-Requena. It is located in the Valencian community and counts more than one hundred wine cellars, in addition to having the famous ‘DOP’ (Denominación de Origen Protegida). It is worth noting that the actual native grape is still produced here, namely a hand-harvested Bobal grape through which both rosé and red wines can be produced.
There are many people out there that think that Utiel-Requena wines are famous, but do not measure up to the wines produced in areas like La Rioja. They are however unaware of the fact that Utiel-Requena holds one of the oldest wineries in Spain, which is another reason to become a fan of the pioneer of Iberian wine.
If you love wine and you’re very curious what it’s all about, come down to visit the Utiel-Requena area. You will find the Wine Museum - Bodega Redonda, where you can learn all about the stages of wine production, from cultivation to bottling. In addition to that, the Bodega Redonda has a collection of different utensils on display, that are used for the production of wine as well as the wine bottles. You can even participate in a workshop, where you’ll get in touch with your senses by smelling 22 different aromatic bells, to see which wine suits you best.
Last but not least, you cannot miss out on a wine tasting when you visit Utiel-Requena. In the museum mentioned earlier, you can taste wines while hearing their detailed explanation. Are you ready to become a wine connoisseur?