Residents of Utiel in Valencia region describe how they escaped rising waters a supermarket worker and competitive power-lifter who lives in the small Valencian town of Utiel was mid-workout on Tuesday morning at his gym when the staff suddenly announced they were closing up because of the torrential rains that had been pummelling the streets since dawn The sheer volume of those rains, which have so far claimed at least 205 lives across eastern was becoming more and more apparent as the waters of the Magro – a river that is normally little more than a stream through Utiel – began to rise and rise raising the alert level across the province of Valencia to red Stay away from rivers and watercourses as flooding is happening.” “I only just managed to get into the house because of the water,” he says. “We went up to the top of the house and stayed there.” A few minutes’ walk away, Inmaculada Haba had also been starting to worry as the water seeped into the ground floor of her house. “We were watching how the river was rising – normally there’s hardly any water in it – and in a matter of seconds, the water started flooding in,” she says. “The wall they built next to it a few years ago did nothing and there was also water coming in from up the hill. In a matter of seconds, I grabbed my two dogs and rushed them up to the first floor.” When Haba came down that afternoon to get the dogs some food, the water was up to her knees. She and her family retreated upstairs – a decision that almost certainly saved their lives. Read moreAs she and her relatives sweep the last of the water from their home and bin their sodden belongings – “I’m OK because we’re all safe and sound and material things can be replaced” – she points to the watermark the floods have left “I’m not very tall and you can see how high the water was It would have been over my head if I’d tried to come down,” she says was trapped in his home with his wife and two terrified young children for five hours until salvation appeared around 8pm in the form of a neighbour and his tractor “We climbed into the scoop and he took us to safety up at the hotel which is the highest part of town,” says Platero but we never thought it would rain like it did here We’ve had floods before but nothing like this.” Platero repaid the favour by working through Tuesday night using one of his own diggers to help rescue people from their homes “They were old people who lived on the ground floor and who couldn’t save themselves.” 1:42'Powerless' Utiel residents continue clean up after Spain's worst floods in decades – videoAleixandre will never forget the sights and sounds of that night As he used a torch to tap out an SOS to the firefighters’ helicopter that was buzzing over the town “You could hear the neighbours’ windows breaking because of the water pressure and then all the water getting in,” he says “And then I saw old people appearing at their windows with candles to try to attract the attention of the rescuers.” Aleixandre and his family were rescued at 7am on Wednesday when a small boat from the military emergencies unit (UME) of the Spanish armed forces pulled up outside their house It would be almost 12 hours before the family was allowed home; police spent Wednesday afternoon pulling the bodies of some of their neighbours from the mud the family are puzzled and angry as to why the Valencian regional government did not send out a civil protection alert to people’s mobile phones until 8.12pm on Tuesday the water was 3 metres high,” says Aleixandre “I keep calling it a horror film because I don’t know how else to describe it When you see something like this on TV – or a tsunami or something – you feel sad and you feel empathy A friend’s car was parked here and it turned up at a bus stop 500 metres away split in half and with a rubbish container on top of it.” Cars stacked up in Utiel Photograph: Susana Vera/ReutersThe ferocity of the rains – forecast last week – that brought Spain’s deadliest floods in decades is plain to see in Utiel even in its half swept-up aftermath firefighters and police and civil protection officers wade through a sticky carpet of mud that is still inches deep on streets veined with hose-pumps and clotted with loud generators The mud itself has become a repository for the contents of people’s homes a sparkplug and a table leg in its stubborn and washed-away walls offer glimpses of patios and dining rooms Three upside-down cars lie in a patch of wasteland near the river The bodywork of a Volkswagen Tiguan is peeling off like flayed skin a BMW seems to have survived until you look through an open back window and see the pools of mud inside The local Guardia Civil barracks was also hit and has bequeathed a stack of damp Read more“The solidarity people here in Utiel have shown has been amazing – and people have been risking their lives saving others,” says Ricardo Gabaldón who has been the town’s mayor for the past 18 months still palpably relieved that he gave the order to close Utiel’s schools first thing on Tuesday almost all of them were old and had reduced mobility,” he says “But there could have been hundreds of deaths here People come here for school from nearby villages and they would have been hit when they were in their cars or the kids would have been in school when the waters came.” Gabaldón’s priorities are re-establishing power to parts of the town making sure there is enough water for everyone and helping the hundreds of people who have lost their homes is still trying to process events as she sweeps the water out of her parents’ house “I can’t tell you what happened here,” she says “I just don’t have the words to describe it.” Her brother keeps returning to something his rescuers told him early on Wednesday But when they were getting us out of here by boat they told us they’d never seen anything like this in Spain People clear mud from a street in an area affected by floods in Catarroja A “Falla” figure structure made of cardboard and other materials is damaged in an area affected by floods in Catarroja A firefighter sits on a dingy waiting to enter a flooded underground car park in the MN4 shopping centre as the search for bodies continues on the outskirts of Valencia A person walks in the mud after floods in Paiporta Two people hug each other after floods on the outskirts of Valencia A woman cries by a window after floods in Paiporta A man looks at the damage and debris in front of a house a affected by floods in Alfafar Volunteers carry buckets of mud after floods in Paiporta Emergency services remove cars in an area affected by floods in Catarroja A soldier works in an area affected by floods in Catarroja Vehicles trapped after the floods are pictured in an area affected by floods in Catarroja A woman sweeps away mud after floods in Paiporta People clean mud from a street affected by floods People clean mud from a house affected by floods Items covered in mud are pictured in an area affected by floods People react as Spain’s King Felipe VI speaks with people amidst angry Spanish flood survivors in Paiporta Spain’s Queen Letizia next to Spain’s King Felipe VI speaks with a woman affected by the floods in Paiporta (Carlos Luján/Europa Press via AP) **SPAIN OUT** Angry Spanish flood survivors confront King Felipe VI in the devastated town of Paiporta walks amidst angry Spanish flood survivors in Paiporta A rescue worker checks a car after floods in Paiporta near Valencia A car sticks out of a garage with debris after flooding in Valencia Volunteers return from helping affected municipalities four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in the town of Paiporta Volunteers walk back to Valencia city passing near La Torre on the outskirts of Valencia after floods Volunteers and residents clean the mud four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in Paiporta A woman walks through a street affected by floods in Paiporta Cars sit on a plot used to store damaged vehicles four days after flash floods swept away everything in their path in the town of Benetússer Vehicles pile up in the streets after flooding caused by late Tuesday and early Wednesday storm that left hundreds dead or missing in Alfafar A teddy bear covered in mud is pictures in an area affected by floods in Paiporta A civil guard searches for survivors in vehicles piled up on the outskirts of Valencia A man reacts in an area affected by floods with cars piled up in the background in Benetusser A man walks on a mud-covered road after flooding in Valencia People clear away mud from inside a flood damaged cemetery on the outskirts of Valencia Damage is seen inside a cemetery on the outskirts of Valencia Cars are seen half submerged after floods in Valencia Damaged cars are seen outside a shopping centre after floods in Valencia People pick up goods in a supermarket affected by the floods in Valencia Vehicles are seen piled up after being swept away by floods in Valencia Residents carry their belongings as they leave their houses affected by floods in Valencia Flooded cars piled up are pictured in Valencia A man stands among flooded cars piled up in Valencia A man stands next to houses affected by floods in Valencia People walk past flooded cars piled up in Valencia Mud covers a bicycle and various belongings in Valencia People clean their houses affected by floods in Valencia A woman cleans her house affected by floods in Valencia A man cleans his house hit by floods in Utiel A man cleans his house affected by floods in Utiel A man reacts in front of houses affected by floods in Utiel People clean their houses affected by floods in Utiel A man walks inside of a supermarket affected by the floods in Valencia A man reacts in front his house affected by floods in Utiel Residents clean the street next to cars piled up after being swept away by floods in Valencia A man carrying water walks through flooded streets in Valencia People walk through flooded streets in Valencia Members of emergency services and Guardia Civil rescue people trapped in their homes after floods in Letur Members of the Spanish army and emergency services rescue people trapped in their homes after floods in Letur A man cleans his house affected by floods in Valencia A woman looks out from her balcony as vehicles are trapped in the street during flooding in Valencia Residents walk through flooded streets in Valencia Residents look at cars piled up after being swept away by floods in Valencia A man walks through flooded streets in Valencia A woman walks through flooded streets in Valencia Emergency crew rescue residents after they were trapped in their homes following flooding in Valencia Emergency teams rescue a person who was stranded by the water in a Guardia Civil helicopter after the floods preceded by heavy rains that caused the overflow of the river in the town of Alora after floods preceded by heavy rains caused the river to overflow its banks in the town of Alora A man observes several cars being swept away by the water This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed The brainchild of Valérie Bataille and Benoit Calvet BVC Bodegas was founded in 2014 as a sister project of the couple’s Bordeaux-based Maison BVC (Benoit and Valérie Calvet) Having started their négociant business in 1985 the entrepreneurs have since developed a comprehensive range of terroir-led wines by seeking like-minded partners in singular regions across France In Utiel-Requena they not only found a unique landscape of incredible viticultural potential but also a community eager to embrace new projects The development of BVC is inextricably linked to the relationship developed between the Calvets and Grupo Coviñas BVC not only buys fruit from the cooperative but also engages in an exchange of ideas and knowledge that has been fruitful and invigorating for both parties If the unspoiled authenticity of Utiel-Requena’s land and people is what first drew Valérie and Benoit to a perhaps unlikely corner of Spain they have been able to develop a thriving and innovative venture thanks to the openness support and efficiency of their local partners This dynamic has validated Utiel-Requena’s legacy and viticultural potential while supporting the development of the local winemaking sector It has also opened new commercial opportunities and marketing avenues for the local grapes and wines has done much to raise awareness of Utiel-Requena’s flagship grape variety and of the region’s potential to yield vibrant expressive wines that serve as perfect everyday-drinking companions It has also proven that it is possible to build commercially viable scalable projects while remaining respectful to local growers and to the identity of a place The way BVC has carved its place in Utiel-Requena in respectful dialogue with local stakeholders BVC Bodegas became part of the AdVini group a leader in terroir-led projects – and thus maintained its original focus on supporting the local terroir and stakeholders the development of innovative products and experimentation in the cellar This in turn relies on an interesting combination of local ancestral knowledge; an understanding of the specificity of the region; and BVC’s daring This combination has already yielded a strong brand – Toro Loco distributed in the UK exclusively by Aldi – with a dynamic range of wines that question our preconceptions and offer an approachable modern yet authentic interpretation of what a DO Utiel-Requena wine can be This has not meant losing a sense of curiosity and wonder – the space BVC occupies is a lab where experimental work is done and personal and shared projects take shape is a single-vineyard wine fermented and aged in clay amphorae under the frequency known in music theory as Verdi’s ‘A’ (432Hz) thought to be harmonious with the Universe and conducive for calm and clarity – principles that BVC Bodegas both sought in and brought to Utiel-Requena Chiva or Bunol recorded more than 400 mm (15-3/4 inches) of rainfall leading the state weather agency AEMET to declare a red alert on Tuesday It was lowered to amber on Wednesday as the rain eased.There was also flooding in other parts of the country including the southern region of Andalusia and forecasters warned of more bad weather ahead as the storm moved in a northeasterly direction."(The floodwaters) took away lots of dogs they took away everything," said Antonio Carmona a construction worker and resident of Alora in Andalusia.DEADLIEST SPANISH FLOODSThe death toll which includes three people in other regions appeared to be the worst in Europe from flooding since 2021 when at least 185 people died in Germany It is possibly Spain's worst in its modern history as the number of victims surpassed 87 people killed in a 1996 flood near the town of Biescas in the Pyrenees mountains.In 1957 dozens of people died in floods in the city of Valencia which led to the construction of a new course of the Turia river to prevent floods in the city centre.Andalusia's regional leader said a 71-year-old British man had died in hospital of heart failure after being rescued from his flooded home in Malaga while suffering from hypothermia.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X that Europe was ready to help "What we're seeing in Spain is devastating," she said on X.ASAJA said on Tuesday it expected significant damage to crops.Spain is the world's largest exporter of fresh and dried oranges according to trade data provider the Observatory of Economic Complexity and Valencia accounts for about 60% of the country's citrus production according to Valencian Institute of Agriculture Investigations.Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change Meteorologists think the warming of the Mediterranean plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe."Events of this type are now becoming more frequent and their destructive capacity is greater," said Ernesto Rodriguez Camino senior state meteorologist and a member of the Spanish Meteorological Association.Reporting by Eva Manez David Latona and Inti Landauro; Writing by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Andrei Khalip Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Madrid-raised German-American breaking news in Spain and 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Previously covered markets in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with a special focus on chemical companies and regular contributions to Reuters' German-language service. Worked at Spanish news agency EFE (Madrid/Bangkok) and the European Pressphoto Agency (Frankfurt). , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved 10-31-2024IMPACT Spain’s Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding but this was the most powerful flash flood event in recent memory BY Associated Press Crews searched for bodies in stranded cars and sodden buildings Thursday as people tried to salvage what they could from their ruined homes following monstrous flash floods in Spain that claimed at least 140 lives Spain’s worst natural disaster this century left a trail of destruction and fears that more horrors will be uncovered from the ubiquitous layers of mud that walls of water left in their wake late Tuesday and early Wednesday An unknown number of people remain missing there are dead people inside some vehicles,” said Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente The widespread damage recalled the aftermath of a hurricane or tsunami Cars piled on one another like fallen dominoes downed power lines and household items all mired in mud that covered streets in dozens of communities in the hardest-hit region of Valencia Rushing water turned narrow streets into death traps and spawned rivers that tore through homes and businesses The floods demolished bridges and left roads unrecognizable was one of the lucky ones when the storm turned the V-31 highway south of Valencia city into a floating graveyard strewn with hundreds of vehicles I am from nearby so I tried to help and rescue people Regional authorities said late Wednesday it seemed no one was left stranded on rooftops or in cars in need of rescue after helicopters had saved some 70 people “Our priority is to find the victims and the missing so we can help end the suffering of their families,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said after meeting with regional officials and emergency services in Valencia on Thursday the first of three official days of mourning The greatest pain was concentrated in Paiporta a community of 25,000 next to Valencia city where mayor Maribel Albalat said Thursday that 62 people had perished And we found a lot of elderly people in the town center,” Albalat told national broadcaster RTVE “There were also a lot of people who came to get their cars out of their garages … it was a real trap.’ While the most suffering was inflicted on municipalities near the city of Valencia the storms unleashed their fury over huge swaths of the south and eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula Two fatalities were reported in the neighboring Castilla La Mancha region and one in southern Andalusia The regional president for Castilla La Mancha said that at least one Guardia Civil police officer was among several missing people in the town of Letur Homes were left without water as far southwest as Malaga in Andalusia where a high-speed train derailed on Tuesday night although none of the nearly 300 passengers were hurt Greenhouses and farms across southern Spain known as Europe’s garden for its exported produce were also ruined by heavy rains and flooding The storms spawned a freak tornado in Valencia and a hail storm that punched holes in cars in Andalusia Heavy rains continued Thursday farther north as the Spanish weather agency issued a red alert for several counties in Castellón An orange alert was issued for southwest Cadiz “This storm front is still with us,” the prime minister said “Stay home and heed the official recommendation and you will help save lives.” Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency rescue units joined regional and local emergency workers in the search for bodies and survivors The soldiers had recovered 22 bodies and rescued 110 people by Wednesday night “We are searching house by house,” Ángel Martínez told Spain’s national radio broadcaster RNE from the town of Utiel Some 150,000 people in Valencia were without electricity on Wednesday An unknown number did not have running water and were relying on whatever bottled water they could find The region remained partly isolated with several roads cut off and train lines interrupted including the high-speed service to Madrid which officials say won’t be repaired for two to three weeks A man wept as he showed a reporter from the national broadcaster RTVE the shell of what was once the ground floor of his home in Catarroja It looked as though a bomb had detonated inside The chaos also prompted some to smash and grab goods The National Police made 39 arrests on Wednesday for looting stores in areas affected by the storms The Civil Guard deployed officers to stop the looting of homes The violent weather event surprised regional government officials. Spain’s national weather service said it rained more in eight hours in the Valencian town of Chiva than it had in the preceding 20 months, calling the deluge “extraordinary.” Yet the relative calm of the day after also gave time to reflect and question the official response The Valencian regional government is being criticized for not sending out flood warnings to people’s mobile phones until 8 p.m when the flooding had already started in some parts and well after the national weather agency had issued a red alert for heavy rains mayor of the Valencian village of L’Alcudia told RTVE that his town lost at least two residents a daughter and her elderly mother who lived together and that police were still searching for a missing truck driver He also complained that he and his townsfolk had no warning of the disaster that struck when the Magro River burst its banks on Tuesday evening “I myself was on my way to check the river level because I had no information,” Salom said “I went with the local police but we had to turn back because a tsunami of water reeds and dirt was already entering the town.” Mari Carmen Pérez said by phone from Barrio de la Torre that her phone buzzed with the flood warning after the rushing water had already forced open the front door and filled the first floor “They didn’t have any idea of what was going on,” Pérez Valencia regional President Carlos Mazón defended his administration’s management of the crisis saying “all our supervisors followed the standard protocol.” The final deadline for Fast Company’s Brands That Matter Awards is Friday, May 30, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today. Fast Company & Inc © 2025 Mansueto Ventures Fastcompany.com adheres to NewsGuard’s nine standards of credibility and transparency. Learn More Rachael O'Connor is a Newsweek Life & Trends reporter based in Leeds, U.K. Her focus is on reporting trends from across the internet and all corners of the world. Rachael joined Newsweek in 2024 from Metro.co.uk and previously worked for The Irish Post. She is a graduate of the University of Galway. Languages: English, Irish. You can get in touch with Rachael by emailing r.oconnor@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Cameras captured the incredible moment a woman was rescued from her home as Spain grapples with devastating flooding The woman was found trapped in her wooden home in Utiel The woman can be seen carrying a small dog in her arms along with what appears to be a cat carrier floating in a box on the gushing water Ballesteros wrote in a post translated from Spanish: "We managed to get the helicopter to see us and rescue this woman in Utiel who was trapped in her wooden house with her cats and dog The video shows the woman reaching out gratefully to the rescue worker before a second helicopter line is dropped from above The woman and all her pets are then attached to the line alongside the rescue worker First needing to go deeper into the water to give the helicopter room, the woman and her animals are airlifted to safety he confirmed he had "just been given the news that both the lady and her dog and her kittens are all safe." X users were in awe at the daring rescue and Ballesteros' video with one user writing in Spanish: "I hope they are well I hope you recover from the scare and fear you had," another said "I need to know if all the pets are okay!! How distressing seeing the submerged carriers," a third wrote A different user wrote: "This is what I pay my taxes for Flash floods across Spain have left scores dead with officials announcing on Wednesday that at least 62 people have so far been killed The Spanish Weather Service reported that Chiva received the equivalent of an entire year's rainfall in just eight hours on Tuesday A red alert has been issued for the Valencia region with alerts also issued for parts of Andalusia Further storms are expected to pass through on Thursday Newsweek has contacted @JaviNakama_ on X, and the Consorci Provincial de Bombers de València on Facebook and via email Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all new video loaded: A Survivor in Spain Filmed How the Water Flooded Her Town in Hours Drive Through Piles Of Washed-Away Cars In Spain Sign up for the Morning Brief email newsletter to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists The death toll from historic flash floods in Spain climbed to least 205 people Friday Spanish emergency authorities said 202 of the victims were in the Valencia region alone and officials warned that more rains were expected in the next days The damage from the storm Tuesday and Wednesday recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourn loved ones lost in Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in living memory. Many streets were still blocked by piled-up vehicles and debris in some cases trapping residents in their homes It’s a disaster and there is very little help,” said Emilio Cuartero residents were busy Friday clearing debris from mud-filled streets The Valencian town received more rain in eight hours on Tuesday than it had in the preceding 20 months and water overflowed a gully that crosses the town told RNE radio that “entire houses have disappeared we don’t know if there were people inside or not." So far 205 bodies have been recovered — 202 in Valencia, two in the Castilla La Mancha region and one more in Andalusia. Members of the security forces and soldiers are busy searching for an unknown number of missing people many feared to still be trapped in wrecked vehicles or flooded garages and now in one night it is all gone,” Chiva resident Juan Vicente Pérez told The Associated Press near the place he lost his home Before-and-after satellite images of the city of Valencia illustrated the scale of the catastrophe showing the transformation of the Mediterranean metropolis into a landscape inundated with muddy waters The V-33 highway was completely covered in the brown of a thick layer of mud The tragedy has unleashed a wave of local solidarity Residents in communities like Paiporta — where at least 62 people died — and Catarroja have been walking miles in sticky mud to Valencia to get supplies passing neighbors from unaffected areas who are bringing water essential products and shovels or brooms to help remove the mud The number of people coming to help is so high that the authorities have asked them not to drive there because they block the roads needed by the emergency services In addition to the contributions of volunteers associations such as the Red Cross and town councils are distributing food The Spanish weather agency issued alerts for strong rains in Tarragona flood survivors and volunteers are engaged in the titanic task of clearing an omnipresent layer of dense mud The storm cut power and water services on Tuesday night but about 85% of 155.000 affected customers had their power back on by Friday There are a lot of elderly people who don’t have medicine We have no access to anything,” a resident of Alfafar one of the most affected towns in south Valencia “No one even came to warn us on the first day.” said the aid isn't nearly enough for residents trapped in an “extreme situation.” “There are people living with corpses at home but we are running out of everything," he told reporters Rushing water turned narrow streets into death traps and spawned rivers that tore through homes and businesses Some shops have been looted and the authorities have arrested 50 people Social networks have channeled the needs of those affected Some posted images of missing people in the hope of getting information about their whereabouts while others launched initiatives such as Suport Mutu — or Mutual Support — which connects requests for help with people who are offering it Others organized collections of basic goods throughout all the country or launched fundraisers Spain’s Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flooding in recent memory. Scientists link it to climate change, which is also behind increasingly high temperatures and droughts in Spain and the heating up of the Mediterranean Sea Human-caused climate change has doubled the likelihood of a storm like this week’s deluge in Valencia according to a partial analysis issued Thursday by World Weather Attribution a group made up of dozens of international scientists who study global warming’s role in extreme weather Spain has suffered through an almost two-year drought making the flooding worse because the dry ground was so hard that it could not absorb the rain a flood swept away a campsite along the Gallego river in Biescas M​ORE: Greenhouse Gases Hit A Record High, UN Says We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview Sign up for the Morning Brief email newsletter to get weekday updates from The Weather Channel and our meteorologists The death toll from historic flash floods in Spain climbed to least 205 people Friday The damage from the storm Tuesday and Wednesday recalled the aftermath of a tsunami, with survivors left to pick up the pieces as they mourn loved ones lost in Spain’s deadliest natural disaster in living memory. Many streets were still blocked by piled-up vehicles and debris Some places still don’t have electricity It’s a disaster and there is very little help,” said Emilio Cuartero told RNE radio that “entire houses have disappeared we don’t know if there were people inside or not.\\\" So far 205 bodies have been recovered — 202 in Valencia, two in the Castilla La Mancha region and one more in Andalusia. Members of the security forces and soldiers are busy searching for an unknown number of missing people and now in one night it is all gone,” Chiva resident Juan Vicente Pérez told The Associated Press near the place he lost his home we would not be here in this world.” Residents in communities like Paiporta — where at least 62 people died — and Catarroja have been walking miles in sticky mud to Valencia to get supplies There are a lot of elderly people who don’t have medicine There are children who don’t have food We have no access to anything,” a resident of Alfafar “No one even came to warn us on the first day.” said the aid isn't nearly enough for residents trapped in an “extreme situation.” “There are people living with corpses at home but we are running out of everything,\\\" he told reporters Rushing water turned narrow streets into death traps and spawned rivers that tore through homes and businesses while others launched initiatives such as Suport Mutu — or Mutual Support — which connects requests for help with people who are offering it Spain’s Mediterranean coast is used to autumn storms that can cause flooding, but this was the most powerful flash flooding in recent memory. Scientists link it to climate change, which is also behind increasingly high temperatures and droughts in Spain and the heating up of the Mediterranean Sea Human-caused climate change has doubled the likelihood of a storm like this week’s deluge in Valencia a group made up of dozens of international scientists who study global warming’s role in extreme weather M​ORE: Greenhouse Gases Hit A Record High, UN Says \\nDrive Through Piles Of Washed-Away Cars In Spain More than 150 people died in Spain this week as the country dealt with unprecedented flooding Flash floods hit the Valencia region after intense rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Since the rain came after a long drought, the natural absorption process was disrupted, leading to deadly consequences, per The Associated Press “Rushing water turned narrow streets into death traps and spawned rivers that tore through homes and businesses The floods demolished bridges and left roads unrecognizable,” the article said Here are some photos of the flood damage. Rescue efforts are still underway, as the Deseret News previously reported An unspecified number of bodies have been found in areas hit by flash flooding in southeastern Spain the leader of the Valencia region told reporters early on Wednesday Torrential rains caused by a cold front moving across southeastern Spain flooded roads and towns on Tuesday prompting authorities in the worst-hit areas to advise citizens to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel we are not going to provide any further data,” said the regional leader of Valencia Carlos Mazon Spain’s state weather agency AEMET declared a red alert in the eastern Valencia region with some areas such as Turis and Utiel recording 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rainfall Dozens of videos shared on social media appeared to show people trapped in floodwaters several of them hanging on to trees to avoid being swept away Other footage showed firefighters using long-line rescue helicopters to help people caught in floodwaters A viral video appeared to capture a tornado The authenticity of the videos has not been immediately verified Schools and other essential services were suspended in the worst-hit areas Local emergency services requested the help of UME a military unit specialised in rescue operations where farmers’ association ASAJA said the storm was causing significant damage to crops Meteorologists are expecting the rains to continue until at least Thursday Footage showed firefighters rescuing trapped drivers amid heavy rain in the Valencian town of Alzira and flooded streets with stuck cars Half submerged cars were also seen floating through the streets as homes were flooded and public transport experienced severe disruption too The New York Times also reported the derailment of a high-speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid near Alora Radio and TV stations were receiving hundreds of calls for help from citizens trapped in flooded areas or searching for loved ones In some places emergency services were unable to reach all affected locations “If (emergency services) have not arrived it’s not due to a lack of means or predisposition but a problem of access,” Mazon said He added that reaching certain areas was “absolutely impossible” The intense rainfall in Spain is likely the result of a sudden cold drop known in Spanish as a “gota fría.” The weather pattern is relatively common and is sometimes called a “DANA.” Scientists say extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change Meteorologists believe the warming of the Mediterranean plays a key role in making torrential rains more severe a 38-year-old Utiel resident said he felt 'powerless' in the face of the floods that killed 95 people in Spain 'My wife took my daughter in her arms when the water was almost chest height,' said Amadeo Ibanez about the deadliest flooding to hit Spain in three decades At least 95 people dead in Spain’s worst floods in three decades Attention and detail and collaboration are the foundations of Sierra Norte a project that began with the pioneering vision of two men with a love for their land and was consolidated by their descendents with a focus on organic viticulture and indigenous grape varieties the company has established itself as one of the foremost projects in Utiel-Requena when Miguel Olmo and Lorenzo García took a visionary and decisive step to plant 0.8ha of Bobal vines in Camporrobles at a time when the region was fully dedicated to cereal crops The new vineyard not only stood out but also foresaw the importance that viticulture would have in the region’s identity and economy Fast forward to 1954 and to Manuel and Heraclio’s decision to add 5.5ha more of vineyards – this time of Tempranillo – to their fathers’ original planting Strategic expansion continued throughout the 1970s (2.5ha of Macabeo) and 1980s (10ha of Cabernet Sauvignon) Heraclio also made the pivotal – and again pioneering – decision to transition to organic viticulture upon becoming aware of the negative impact that phytosanitary products were having on the local ecosystem Mapi Domingo (winemaker) and Manuel Olmo (winemaker general manager and third generation at the helm of Sierra Norte) a new generation stepped forward: Manuel and Lorenzo not only became actively involved in the project but also decided to pursue academic training in viticulture and winemaking In 1999 they joined forces with friend Pedro Calleja to start their winery and stop selling their family’s grapes – hence Bodega Sierra Norte was born in an effort to consolidate and expand the project Sierra Norte settled in Requena where its headquarters warehouse and own bottling facilities are now located This move not only allowed Sierra Norte to increase and diversify its portfolio but also created the conditions to start export efforts in earnest after investing in the recovery of old Bobal vines that Sierra Norte’s most sought after and recognisable wine it has become a one of the best-selling expressions of Utiel-Requena’s indigenous grape raising awareness to the quality potential of the variety and the need to preserve the region’s old vines and viticultural heritage Sierra Norte’s vineyards in Camporrobles The latter three are home to the project’s three wineries while in Requena in addition to the headquarters and logistical hub In partnership with the Universidad de Valencia and the Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) Sierra Norte has developed numerous – and ongoing – research initiatives including experimental vineyards and selection of indigenous organic yeasts these inform the production of Sierra Norte’s wide portfolio whose focus remains the indigenous varieties of each of the appellations the company now operates in Sierra Norte stands out a a project that has been able to expertly combine scalability with an enduring attention to detail and relentless commitment to the land and people Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Residents describe impact of floods and downpours – with some places hit with a year’s worth of rain in just eight hours The gratitude that greeted Tuesday’s dawn downpours was short-lived in Utiel When the longed-for rains finally reached the town in the drought-stricken eastern Spanish region of Valencia “People were very happy at first because they’d been praying for rain as their lands needed water,” said Remedios this storm had really hit and we were all pretty terrified.” she and a handful of her customers could only sit and watch as Spain’s worst flooding in almost 30 years caused the Magro River to overflow its banks trapping some residents in their homes and sending cars and rubbish bins surging through the streets on muddy flood waters Damaged cars lie amid debris along damaged rail lines in the flood-hit city of Valencia Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA“The rising waters brought mud and stones with them and they were so strong that they broke the surface of the road,” said Remedios “The tunnel that leads into the town was half-full of mud trees were down and there were cars and rubbish containers rolling down the streets My outside terrace has been destroyed – the chairs and shades were all swept away By Wednesday afternoon, the death toll in Valencia and the neighbouring regions of Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía stood at 95 . Utiel’s mayor, Ricardo Gabaldón, told Las Provincias newspaper that some of the town’s residents had not survived the floods, but was unable to provide an exact number. Hours earlier, Gabaldón had told Spain’s national broadcaster, RTVE, that Tuesday had been the worst day of his life. “We were trapped like rats,” he said. “Cars and rubbish containers were flowing down the streets. The water was rising to 3 metres.” 1:42'Powerless' Utiel residents continue clean up after Spain's worst floods in decades – videoPeople in the town fear some of the dead may have been older people who were unable to escape the flood waters. Remedios said: “Anyone who could get to higher ground did, but there were some old people who couldn’t even open their front doors and they were trapped there inside their own houses.” were confronted by similar scenes on Wednesday morning it’s literally smashed up,” Christian Viena A man carries a dog in Letur Photograph: Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty ImagesSpain’s meteorological office said that more than 300 litres of rain per square metre (30cm) had fallen in the area between Utiel and the town of Chiva almost an entire year’s worth of rain had fallen in just eight hours The ferocious rains have come as Spain continues to experience a punishing drought. Last year, the government approved an unprecedented €2.2bn (£1.9bn) plan to help farmers and consumers cope with the enduring lack of rain amid warnings that the climate would only get worse “Spain is a country that is used to periods of drought but there’s no doubt that as a consequence of the climate change we’re experiencing we’re seeing far more frequent and intense events and phenomena,” the environment minister a distressing picture of the human and economic damage began to emerge Spain declared three days of national mourning 0:48Spain's prime minister warns people affected by floods to 'stay on guard' – videoThe prime minister said the entire country felt the pain of those who had lost their loved ones and urged people to take every possible precaution as the torrential rains moved to the north-east of the country said 1,000 members of the military emergencies unit had been deployed to help regional emergency services In a sign that more bodies could be trapped in the mud and in houses One man used a phone call to RTVE to plead for any news of his son who had gone missing in his Fiat van after going to work as a delivery driver in the Valencian town of Riba-roja on Tuesday A man picks his way through debris in Letur Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters“I haven’t heard from him since 6.55 yesterday,” said Leonardo Enrique “It was raining heavily and then I got a message saying the van was flooding and that he’d been hit by another vehicle said workers had been stuck overnight in an industrial estate “without a chance of rescuing them” as streams overflowed “It had been a long time since this happened and we’re scared,” she told Agence France-Presse experts warned that the torrential rains and subsequent floods were further proof of the realities of the climate emergency these explosive downpours were intensified by climate change,” said Dr Friederike Otto leader of world weather attribution at the Centre for Environmental Policy “With every fraction of a degree of fossil fuel warming These deadly floods are yet another reminder of how dangerous climate change has already become at just 1.3C of warming But last week the UN warned that we are on track to experience up to 3.1C of warming by the end of the century.” “There was one guy here with me yesterday who’s 73 and he said he’d never seen anything like this in all his years,” said Remedios Residents clean their belongings after flood in Utiel Torrential rains over recent days have triggered Spain's worst flooding in decades The death toll from the flooding had risen to 211 as of Saturday morning 2024 shows a view of the flood-affected area in Utiel A high-heeled shoe is pictured in mud after flood in Utiel A resident clears his residence after flood in Utiel At least 155 victims have been recorded in the Valencia region alone the hardest-hit area by the floods in Spain In the small town of Utiel in the province of Valencia a town of over 11,000 inhabitants an hour from Valencia and feet can sometimes sink fully into the mud is surreal after the torrential rains October 29 which continued until the following evening particularly around homes near the river in the lower part of the town The water receded as quickly as it had flooded the streets The Magro River left behind tons of sediment and debris The walls of one house were entirely ripped away Tractors are hard at work trying to clear the streets as much as possible but we're all helping each other; it’s just us to clean up.” who has lived just a few meters from the river since 2002 “I don’t see how we can improve prevention we would have to ban building in flood-prone areas We always forget what happened 60 years ago The sound of pumps fills the air as they work to drain out all the water that flooded inside Esperanza has retrieved a few personal items before leaving to stay at her brother’s They airlifted some people out; I was rescued with a small inflatable boat through the window and that’s what matters.” There is no memory of a disaster like this “My grandmother used to say the river had once overflowed a bit the water just touched the houses by the edge and came in a little Even the oldest residents have never seen anything like this A few residents gaze at the completely decimated park wondering if enough was done to prevent such a tragedy then businesses should have plans and let us stay home.” Utiel is painfully awakening to the threats of climate change Residents in disaster-stricken areas have begun clearing mud and repairing damaged buildings and infrastructure Volunteers from nearby regions have also come to assist donation drives have been launched to support affected residents 3 (Xinhua) -- Thick layers of mud coated the streets as the floodwaters receded Numerous shops and homes showed extensive damage while flood-soaked cars lay scattered along roads located on the outskirts of Valencia in eastern Spain is among the areas hardest hit by the flooding a local bar owner who declined to give his first name shared with Xinhua his experience on Oct.29 it was just very windy," which led many to disregard the warnings from the meteorological department rainwater accumulated from surrounding areas and flooded the town people began noticing water pooling on roads Many people didn't even have time to react and were trapped in their cars," said Anna Utterstrom a local resident who works at a local home goods store She said that over 300 people took shelter in the store that night and fear and anxiety were etched on everyone's faces," she recalled access to some severely affected areas remained possible only on foot High-speed train services from Madrid and Barcelona to the Valencia region were suspended Spain's Minister of Transportation Oscar Puente announced that high-speed train services are expected to resume within two weeks though suburban rail restoration remains uncertain and personal belongings in homes were reported stolen With the arrival of police and military relief forces The Spanish government announced a three-day nationwide mourning period from midnight on Oct Casa Don Ángel marked an inflection point in the history of Vera de Estenas the project founded by Félix’s father in the 1980s It materialised the family’s pioneering belief in the potential of Bobal – Utiel-Requena’s flagship and often underestimated grape variety – to produce wines of great finesse and staying power while also confirming the unique character of the terroir of Vera de Estenas The latter would be further corroborated by the attainment becoming one of only 24 estates in Spain to hold its own designation of origin these achievements paved the way for other producers in Utiel-Requena to believe in the future of the appellation and its indigenous varieties as sources of balanced the ‘Bobal de Alta Expresión’ stamps exists to highlight the best wines produced this would not have been possible without the effort and belief of Félix Martínez Roda and his father hailing from some of Vera de Estenas’ prized plots of old vines was the first Bobal to be aged in barriques and envisioned as a ‘vino de guarda’ (a wine with significant cellaring potential) This validates the efforts of all growers preserving Utiel-Requena’s incredible stock of old vines as well as the singularity of the appellation’s viticultural landscape This catalysed a reevaluation of renewed appreciation for the region’s terroirs and grape varieties such as Tardana – also championed by the Vera de Estenas’ team – will no doubt follow Vera de Estenas has also been active in promoting the cultural and social cohesion of Utiel-Requena underscoring the role that wine has in the local economy and identity the winery opened the doors of its beautiful late-modernist building to inaugurate a permanent exhibition of magnum bottles featuring the work of artists from multiple disciplines The ArteMagnum project was first presented at Valencia’s iconic Mercado de Colón in 2007 raising important awareness to Utiel-Requena its producers and the many connections between wine This message is now forever reiterated at Vera de Estenas at an exhibition that forms part of a wider display of historical artefacts and documents at the winery May this continue to inspire the people of Utiel-Requena reaffirming that unlocking the region’s future requires the preservation of its outstanding past The ArteMagnum project presented against the backdrop of Casa Don Ángel The sun rises behind a field of sunflowers at the ‘Harz’ mountains near Wernigerode A field of blossoming sunflowers are pictured early morning at the Harz mountains near Wernigerode A field of blossoming sunflowers is pictured early morning at the Harz mountains near Wernigerode Spain (AP) — Spain sweated under its first official heatwave of the year with temperatures expected to reach 40 degrees Celcius (104 Fahrenheit) in a large swathe of the country on Thursday Greece and other areas of southern Europe also struggled to stay cool After a relatively bearable spring compared to record heat in 2023 and 2022 millions of Spaniards will be sweltering at least through Saturday before feeling any relief The nation’s weather authority said the only areas to be spared will be the northwest and northern Atlantic coasts Weather forecasters said a large mass of hot air travelling across the Mediterranean from northern Africa will settle over central and southern Spain combined with the typical harsh summer sun will make cities like the beautiful medieval cites of Sevilla The hottest area will be the southern Guadalquivir River basin where thermometers could reach 44C (111F) Six regions are under alerts for high temperatures a heat wave is a minimum of three consecutive days during which at least 10% of weather stations register highs above the 95% percentile of average maximum temperatures for July and August where a prolonged heatwave was at its peak on Wednesday and Thursday Temperatures touched 43C (109F) in several parts of the country while night-time temperatures in parts of Athens remained above 30C (86F) for the past 10 days Firefighters were fighting two large blazes on Thursday one near a village on the outskirts of the northern city of Thessaloniki Emergency services ordered the evacuation of two areas on Kea while local media said the fire near Thessaloniki had damaged several homes “We appeal to the public to be particularly careful as over the next few days there is a very high risk of the outbreak of serious wildfires,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said “Even one spark can cause a major catastrophe.” Italy put 14 cities put under the highest level of alert and temperatures are expected to climb above 40C especially in the central and southern regions The health ministry said it will further extend the red alert to 17 Italian cities on Friday as the intense heat was forecast to continue until Sunday Serbia’s state power company reported record consumption due to the use of air conditioning ___ Elena Becatoros in Athens and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed to this report CommoditiesSpain Struggles to Make Sense of a Flood That Killed HundredsBy Clara Hernanz Lizarraga, Macarena Muñoz, and Jorge ZuloagaPublished: November 02, 2024 at 1:00AM EDT (Bloomberg) -- Three days after flash floods swept through Utiel, a tiny town in the eastern province of Valencia, volunteers trudged through debris to help clear broken furniture and shovel away mud. “In less than a day I’ve lost everything,” said Carlos Hortelano, 57, who has lived in Utiel all his life. Storm water flooded his house while his mother and her helper were inside. They sheltered on the second floor, watching the water level creep up the stairs. In a single-story home next door, an elderly man died, having nowhere to go. Utiel is one of more than a dozen towns in Valencia, the country’s third most populated region, that were devastated by this week’s storms. More than 200 people have died and thousands of homes were destroyed in Spain’s worst natural disaster since 1962. Three of Valencia’s five metropolitan train systems will have to be fully rebuilt and several large highways will need major repairs. Extreme storms, known in Spain as “danas,” are likely to become more common as climate change makes heat waves more frequent and intense. Record temperatures in the Mediterranean are strengthening the effects of such storms. Valencia’s regional government has already pledged €250 million in direct aid for citizens, but it will take far more than that to undo the damage. The total amount needed is still unclear, but most of the support will come from government coffers: either from public works funds or a special insurance agency set up after Spain’s civil war to fund reconstruction.  Recovery efforts will pose more than financial challenges. At a time in which Spanish politics is increasingly polarized, the administration of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will have to work closely with Valencia’s regional government, led by conservative Carlos Mazon.   Political tensions are already apparent. Mazon has been criticized for his province’s handling of emergency alerts, and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the government’s point person for relief efforts, blamed the region for waiting too long to notify residents. Valencia’s emergency service sent out a warning at around 8 p.m. on Tuesday night — 13 hours after the national weather agency placed the area on red alert. At the time, many people were still out and about in the streets. Mazon is also coming under fire for his decision last year to close a regional agency whose responsibilities included coordinating natural disaster response. On Thursday, opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo defended Mazon against charges that Valencia’s alerts were fatally slow, noting that local governments rely on national agencies for information about the weather. Mazon has been president of the Valencia region since July 2023, when the People’s Party member rode a wave of support from the far-right Vox party to unseat a Socialist incumbent. He swiftly made his mark by cutting initiatives that he deemed ideological – including the emergency response unit. At the time, Mazon’s government said more efficient systems could be developed.  Valencia is one of Spain’s largest regions, but it ranks 12 out of 17 in per capita GDP. Its economy is highly reliant on low-income jobs such as agriculture and tourism, and the province is home to Benidorm, the sea resort credited with being the birthplace of mass tourism.  It’s also known as one of the epicenters of the real estate bubble that ravaged the country’s economy in the early part of this century. The scale of this week’s destruction has been linked to years of unregulated construction and a lack of environmental planning or oversight. The disaster happened at a moment in which Spain was on the upswing, with its economy growing far more than those of its peers. While economists say it’s unlikely that the flooding could derail these gains, they caution that it’s too soon to calculate the extent of the impact.    “Sectors like agriculture and transport have been disproportionately affected,” said Bloomberg Economics’ Ana Andrade, “but the fact that the episode seems to have been so far limited to the region of Valencia — which accounts for 9% of Spain’s GDP — will help to contain the costs nationally.”  She speculated that in an extreme scenario, such as a prolonged blackout of the province’s agricultural production and half of its transportation infrastructure, “the cost could be around 0.3% GDP in the fourth quarter.” In the meantime, with many people still trapped in their homes and the death toll continuing to climb, relief efforts remain underway. As many as 2,000 members of the army, the navy and the royal guard have been deployed to Valencia, said General Fernando Carrillo, who leads a special emergency military unit. “I have never seen this degree of desolation,” he said on public broadcaster La 1. “I want to send the message that we will reach every street, we will knock on every door and we will not leave here until everything is solved. We will be present as long as we are needed.” Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Craft market, gastronomy and performances: this will be the 8th edition of "Utiel, 250 years by candlelight" that will take place on June 7, 8 and 9. A dinner, a bath, a marriage proposal or a whole village… everything is more beautiful in candlelight. This is something that the inhabitants of Utiel, 80 km. from Valencia capital, are convinced of. For the last eight years they have been recovering an ancient tradition that consists, as you can imagine, in filling the streets and squares of the town with thousands and thousands of candles. With the end of spring and the arrival of summer, the Valencian town of Utiel transforms its corners for one night and turns them into a fairytale setting, a magical place that is well worth a visit, during its annual “Utiel, 250 years by candlelight”. Next Saturday, June 8 will take place the eighth edition of Utiel, 250 years by candlelight, a dream show in which, at nightfall the darkness becomes light thanks to thousands and thousands of candles. The tradition of illuminating Utiel with thousands of candles dates back almost 260 years, and in 2024 will be the 8th edition in which the ephemeris of when the population illuminated the church with candles, “as many as bees were counted in a swarm”, to ask for the heavy rains to stop and the crops to be saved. The candle lighting will begin at 22:00 on Saturday, June 8, right after the Agrupación Escénica Enrique Rambal will stage the legend that gives rise to this festivity, and will be enlivened by several musical performances. Anyone interested in tradition in winemaking should be sure to visit the museum in the main square of Requena’s old town. In its underground caves, long time used as cellars, it has a remarkable collection of traditional amphorae that were once used for fermentation and storage. In the 21st century local winemakers are working with amphorae once more, exploring their stylistic features. Requena also has a special place in the contemporary history of oenology in Spain. That’s because many of today’s leading winemakers trained at Requena, at a time when there were only two wine schools in the country (at the time the only other one was in Tarragona). Utiel-Requena – named after two neighbouring towns – became a denomination in 1957 In terms of Spain’s modern wine history this is early, as so many DOs did not come on stream until nearly a decade later. Located at the westernmost point of Valencia province, an hour by car inland from Valencia, the DO lies on a plateau that sits 600-900m above sea level. The land sloping down from the central plateau of Castile towards the Mediterranean causes the differences in height. This results in stylistic differences across the DO. To the east, Sinarcas, Camporrobles and Fuenterrobles are the highest of the sub-zones, and they deliver wines they are notable for their higher acidity, their lower alcohol and the bright fresh fruit aromas. The climate here is continental moderated by Mediterranean influences. It’s cold enough for frost and hail in the winter, while in the summer the vines can suffer extreme heat: that’s to say, temperatures range from -10°C to 40°C across the year. There’s plenty of sunlight (280 hours annually) and 450mm of rain. The DO has two main soil types: alluvial; and clay with limestone deposits. Utiel-Requena’s classic landscape has memorably reddish/terracotta colour soils stretching away into the distance, dotted by bush vines, the view occasionally broken by trees. The indigenous Bobal variety owes its name to its irregular shape, reminiscent of a bull’s head Utiel-Requena is the spiritual home of the Bobal grape. It appears early in literature, and was mentioned in the 15th century Valencia text, the Llibre de les Dones (The Book of Women). It is the third-most planted variety in Spain after Airén and Tempranillo, though one of the least known, and it accounts for 8% of all varieties. Beyond Utiel-Requena, Bobal can be found in neighbouring Manchuela and Ribera del Júcar appellations. It’s a vigorous, fairly upright plant, throwing out long trailing shoots. Budburst is in late April/early May, with harvest in September and October. The bunch is an irregular cone shape, thought to resemble a bull’s head, and hence the name bovale or Bobal. As a variety it creates deeply coloured wines with firm tannins that are well structured with a good potential for cellaring. Despite the DO’s warm terroir, Bobal is a variety that’s very well balanced in terms of pH and natural acidity, not requiring adjustments during winemaking. Not surprisingly given its deep colour, Bobal also has a higher than average resveratrol content. In the early 20th century the grape was valued for this deep colour and its productivity. Following Spain’s entry into the European Community in the 1980s, the transformation of Bobal and Utiel-Requena began, with the introduction of bottled wine and fine wine. In the early 2000s Bobal was only known for its toothsome, juicy rosés. Since then serious attention to viticulture and subtle approaches to winemaking and blending to manage the tannins has created wines with strong international appeal. Today it’s the ‘new look’ Bobal that’s leading the international recognition of the grape variety – and drawing a new generation of winemakers to work with it. Red: Bobal, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Garnacha Tintorera, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc. Bobal accounts for 70% of plantings. It is often blended with Tempranillo and Merlot, although more and more winemakers are producing single varietal Bobal wines. White: Tardana, Macabeo, Mersequera, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Parellada, Verdejo, Moscatel de grano menudo. Amongst the white wines, Macabeo is the most common, and often blended with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, for freshness. Some whites are barrel fermented for added complexity. From time to time, when the right conditions prevail, it’s possible to make sweet wines. They are rare, but some recent vintages have produced outstanding wines. Vinícola Requenense, Señorío de Mestalla Crianza, Utiel-Requena 2016 95 Bobal, Tempranillo and Garnacha combine to deliver great complexity of red berries over toast and smoke. Dried plums with a meaty edge come through, as do tobacco and spices on the lingering finish. Bodegas Utelianas, Vega Infante Selección Crianza Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2015 90 Rich, jammy and broad, with a floral perfume, aromatic herbs and pink peppercorns. Fruit is beginning to mature but still very present and the fresh feel remains. BVC Bodegas, Toro Loco Edición Memoria Superior, Utiel-Requena 2017 90 Aromatic and notably floral, with candied spice also on show, ably supported by brisk acidity and a lingering, gentle finale. BVC Bodegas,  Toro Loco Reserva, Utiel-Requena 2015 92 Structured and poised, with a pleasing marriage of tannin and acidity, with dark berries forming the core of the palate before the gently spicy finale. Chozas Carrascal, Las Dosces, Utiel-Requena 2017 90 Real sense of the Mediterranean, with herbal garrigue notes adding depth and character to structured, powerful tannins and the flower-decorated wild red berries. Dominio de la Vega, En Calma Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2018 90 Nose of red berries and a tickle of spice, followed by a palate containing pleasant, elegant tannins, juicy fruits and great acidity. Faustino Rivero Ulecia, Joven, Utiel-Requena 2018 90 Fresh and dainty nose of violets and plums, augmented by a similarly pretty palate with brisk acidity, sweet cherries and a supple finish. Pago de Tharsys, Tharsys Único Reserva Brut, Utiel-Requena 2016 91 Fresh, crisp and delicate, with green tones to the citrus fruit, elevated by the crunchy acidity and sitting upon a very fine mousse. Valsangiacomo, Bobal de Sanjuan Viñas Viejas Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2018 93 Seductive, floral aromas bolstered by forward, fresh fruit notes, underlined by defined acidity and a nicely-packed, concentrated finish. Bodegas Coviñas,  Superior Villa de Adnos Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2017 86 Lightly aromatic, possessing upfront, juicy cherries and deep, fresh blackcurrants and a finish which accentuates the fresh fruits. Bodegas Coviñas, Adnos, Utiel-Requena 2014 86 Expressive on the nose, with wild red and black bramble fruits, persistent flavours and a firm finish. Bodegas Coviñas,  Veterum Vitium Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2016 87 Fresh and lively, showing violets, wild raspberries, dried citrus and defined acid. Bodegas Jiménez-Vila,  Nexo, Utiel-Requena 2018 89  Ripe, plump and jammy, but backed by refreshing acidity, spices, chocolate and firm but polished tannins. Bodegas Jiménez-Vila, La Novicia, Utiel-Requena 2017 86 Super-ripe, almost baked red berry fruits, with an array of spices and firm oak tannin. Bodegas Utielanas, Castillo de Utiel, Utiel-Requena 2017 88 Green olives and earth, augmented by peppercorn and minerals, with gritty tannins and an overarching freshness. Bodegas Utielanas, Vega Infante Crianza Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2015 87 Lush and big but also floral, with more savoury notes of black pepper and leather, with a chewy persistence. Bodegas Vibe, Parsimonia Crianza, Utiel-Requena 2016 86 Mouth-watering acidity and pure fruit which show a herbal air towards the end. Bodegas Vibe, Parsimonia Autor Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2017 88 Soft but defined, with vanilla creaminess to the fruits and a cocoa dash on the finish. Casagrande, Tinto de Autor Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2016 88 Sweet and sour black cherry, mixed berries, with sweet oak spices and a leesy softness. Dominio de la Vega, The End, Utiel-Requena 2018 87 Ripe tropical notes of pineapple, boosted by spice, honey, wax and spice at the end. Nodus, Delirium Merlot, Utiel-Requena 2016 86 Concentrated and structured, with dark fruits, bitter chocolate, mint, liquorice and pleasing freshness. Nodus, Chardonnay,  Utiel-Requena 2018 87 Tinges of smoke over cream, lemon, apple and lime, with a savoury and mineral line on a delicate palate. Pago de Tharsys,  Tharsys City Madurado en Barrica Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2018 87 Rich and sweet attack, before a woody character shows on the palate which is structured and focused. Sierra Norte, Pasión de Bobal Rosé, Utiel-Requena 2018 86  Refreshing, crisp style, with wild red berry fruits, vital acidity and a charming finish. Sierra Norte,  Bercial Ladera los Cantos, Utiel-Requena 2016 88 Vanilla, sweet spices and chocolate. Richly structured, with firm tannins and lovely cassis. Sierra Norte, Pasión de Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2017 87 Rich, soft, mature and jammy fruits, with good use of oak and lifted, elegant balance. Valsangiacomo, La Aldea de San Juan Viñas Viejas Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2016 89 Ripe plum, sour cherry, with polished tannins on a pure fruit profile showing persistent minerals. Vera de Estenas, Crianza, Utiel-Requena 2016 88 Interesting, ripe and jammy black berry fruit flavours, with firm tannins, refreshing acidity and a saline hint. Vera de Estenas, El Bobal de Estenas, Utiel-Requena 2018 86 Elegant, roasted fruits on the nose, and a palate which is straightforward but attractive with its pleasant roundness. Vera de Estenas, Casa Don Angel Bobal, Utiel-Requena 2015 87 Sweetly-fruited, with a palate revealing dark chocolate, smoke, ripe tannins and a flamboyant, toasty oak finish. Vinícola Requenense, Palacio Imperial Tinto, Utiel-Requena 2018 87 Appealing intensity of medicinal, meat and spice tones, with a scattering of herbs further layering the fruit. wine has been made for over 2,500 years in the Spanish Denomination of Origin Utiel-Requena Archaeological sites discovered within the region show the continuous production of wine over centuries The wines produced locally were in turn traded to other regions during a history that has spanned the pre-Roman Iberian Era there were dozens of wineries excavated and carved deep underground one can often find the remnants of old stone lagars such as those in one site called Las Pilillas Two other archaeological sites of note are the emblematic Kelin testament of the region’s importance as an early agriculture and trade and even grape seeds that show the extensive history in which wine has been a key part of life in Utiel-Requena Despite being located just 70km inland from the city of Valencia Utiel-Requena has exceedingly different geological and climatic conditions than the shores of the coast The modern DO Utiel-Requena is one of Spain’s oldest and legally defined by nine towns and villages: Caudete de las Fuentes To say that it’s the main economic driver of the region is no understatement While it’s difficult to know the exact history of most classic grape varieties currently in use Bobal is thought to be native to the region of Utiel-Requena as shown by the first mention of it in a historic text from the 15th century The vineyard area within the DO is 33,000ha in size Of this Bobal makes up the vast majority with over 21,000ha of all plantations If you stroll through these old bush vineyards during the later summer months it’s easy to understand how a region could have so much land dedicated to one grape as Bobal is so well adapted to the region The clusters hang with a natural ease from the gnarled trunks and branches allowing the region’s fresh breezes to sweep past them and naturally maintain vineyard as well as grape health With a vigorous skin and the ability to withstand drought the vines and their grapes thrive in the dry climate of Utiel-Requena which in addition to being very high in altitude at 750m above sea level (and even up to 900m in some parts) This blend of Mediterranean and Continental conditions which may be too extreme for many grape varieties is one in which Bobal finds itself at home Resistance to difficult conditions also makes Bobal an ideal variety for the future challenges of climate change as it’s already been “stress tested” throughout the centuries in Utiel-Requena Given the dry conditions and the innate hardiness of the variety the application of organic viticulture is far easier than in other The governing board has therefore been consistently promoting the uptake of organic practices But the wines consistently hold deep colour and manage to be full-bodied even if handled gently in the cellar you can find wines with intense aromas and lovely ripe red berry character thanks to the large temperature shifts between day and night that work to preserve acidity in the grapes Special note should be made of the rosés that are crafted from Bobal Both fresh and fruity while often showing a hypnotising shade of pink they hold enough structure to make for more complex Their potential calls for attention when there has been such a renewed love of pink pour from Southern Europe as is the case with grape varieties that are thicker-skinned scientific studies have shown that Bobal contains one of the highest levels of resveratrol to be found in any grape variety This compound has been shown to aid in heart health as well as a healthy diet overall making wines from Bobal a key component to the Mediterranean Diet The winemakers of Utiel Requena can easily see they have a future and identity in Bobal which is why in 2019 they formed the entity of “Tierra Bobal” The idea was to unify Utiel-Requena as a destination built from the wine up As shown by the vast numbers of people working in wine this is a region defined by winemaking and this should be core to any visit Utiel-Requena has worked with various stakeholders in the region to integrate both public and private spheres to make Bobal a true representation of the land they’re promoting the “Vineyard and Wine Museum of the Valencian Community” in Utiel which they invite people to visit the “Palacio del Cid Wine Museum” in Requena that allows visitors the chance to explore the singularity of wine in the region In addition to the strength of Bobal and its many different styles Utiel-Requena cultivates other varieties also local to the Levant White wines based upon Macabeo (Viura) and Merseguera are especially exciting as they’re both native to the eastern coast of Iberia and are able to produce fresh They’re exceedingly gastronomic and have gained renown as ideal pairing companions to the dishes from the coastal areas and Garnacha Tintorera do very well in the environs of Utiel-Requena producing hearty reds with a different aspect than that of the foundational variety of Bobal there are 17 varieties permitted in addition to Bobal which allows the region’s wineries to make wines in all colours The nine towns that make up the DO Utiel Requena represent a rich natural and artistic heritage that offers much to explore beyond the wines well-preserved mediaeval architecture in both the towns of Requena and Utiel with its varied landscape of extreme rocks and cliffs that rise up from the Cabriel River (believed to be the cleanest in Europe) forms the border with neighbouring Castilla-La Mancha All the destinations in the region make for fine hiking in the ruggedness of interior Iberia they allow visitors to experience the fine local gastronomy which complements and accentuates the wines Another key item of gastronomic production is pork dry climate of Utiel-Requena was ideal for curing meats to consume throughout the year strong emphasis on winemaking and the embrace of Bobal as flagship grape variety it’s easy to see that people have a good deal of pride in the singularity of the region This is why they took a stand to defend their territory against its dilution when a change to the bylaws of neighbouring Valencia allowed producers in that DO to source all types of grape varieties from any of the nine villages within DO Utiel-Requena It was a change that didn’t go unnoticed as it heavily affected the production of the wines as well as the identity as a Protected Denomination of Origin and Utiel-Requena promptly filed suit with the Spanish courts After a very lengthy process that spanned a decade in July 2021 the Spanish Supreme Court issued a ruling in favour of DO Utiel-Requena which required that DO Valencia removes any mention of the municipalities attached to the geographical demarcation as stipulated by the Denomination of Origin Utiel-Requena It was a moment that the DO celebrated as it reinforced European Union law and re-established the region and its unique identity which shares nothing in common with DO Valencia DO Utiel-Requena has historically been at a crossroads for thousands of years and forms a meeting place of cultures This can be seen in the wines and gastronomy that have adapted so incredibly well to a rugged unforgiving territory that is as much at the crossing of cultures as it is of climates and landscapes in the Iberian Peninsula As shown by the continued evolution of Bobal as a star variety for the region the landscape continues to shape and form the wines The changes enacted today will allow future generations to carry on this unique culture around wine making it as much a part of the thousands of years to come as it has been of the thousands of years that have passed DO Utiel-Requena has been developing and consolidating a unique sustainability action plan that addresses the environmental social and economic impact of the region’s wine industry The plan sits at the heart of an encompassing strategic approach that considers the past and future in tandem New emphasis is being given to the preservation of the region’s heritage while also promoting community engagement and innovation By giving equal weight to all aspects of sustainable development Utiel-Requena’s strategy stands out as an example of creativity defining a new benchmark for wine regions the world over Integral to DO Utiel-Requena’s philosophy – and to the success of its plan – is the summoning of different stakeholders to become part of a shared vision for the region’s future schools and hospitality venues form a diverse and vibrant constellation of collaborative agents with the DO’s Consejo Regulador at its epicentre who benefit from and contribute to this holistic approach Partnerships between all or some of these agents target specific intervention areas; for example Asociación Territorio Bobal advocates for the preservation of the region’s flagship variety and Ruta del Vino de la DO Utiel-Requena promotes wine tourism in the area The involvement of local education institutions linking students with those who work the land The DO runs a pedagogical programme with five secondary schools as well as the Viticulture and Winemaking School of Requena and the Hospitality School of Utiel The fruits of the project range from the production of limited-edition wines to inspiring collections of stories and poems written by students after interviewing growers and winemakers the vineyards of Utiel-Requena and its unique viticultural heritage The preservation of the region’s invaluable stock of old vineyards and the genetic diversity of local varieties has been a priority for many years These assets are fundamental to produce quality wines that have a sense of place and essential tools to face the challenges of climate change Highly adapted to local conditions and terroir local grape varieties – among which the flagship red Bobal and the underestimated white Tardana stand out – have the incredible ability to leverage local conditions (altitude significant temperature amplitudes) to preserve freshness and acidity while delivering aromatic and textural complexity Promoting biodiversity and safeguarding the region’s wealth of indigenous flora and fauna are two other key areas of focus expertise is offered to support growers and producers to implement organic and regenerative farming practices The protection of these natural assets would not be possible without a parallel fight against depopulation environmental sustainability is inextricably linked to social and economic variables connected strategy developed by DO Utiel-Requena Further to the work with educational institutions – which will hopefully motivate younger generations to pursue careers in the local wine industry – the Consejo works closely with restaurants and hotels empowering staff with knowledge of the region’s wines and history It also participates actively in multiple gastronomic events and local festivities – all documented in the Agenda del Vino produced by the Consejo itself – highlighting the importance of viticulture and winemaking for the region’s identity and economic resilience Utiel-Requena’s approach to sustainability It is shaped by a deep belief in the uniqueness of the region’s terroirs and grapes and the outstanding potential (viticultural as well as commercial) of its wines It therefore highlights how the sustainability of the local wine industry and its community is in fact at the heart of the future of the region as whole ‘Organic Spanish wines with a Dutch heart’ – this is how the project founded by Dutch entrepreneur Derrick Neleman in 2014 There is indeed an incredible sense of place in all the wines produced by the eponymous winery while the brand’s identity is infused with creative wonder and entrepreneurial spirit – perhaps showing that it is sometimes easier for an outsider to leverage the true value of what locals might take for granted Valérie Bataille and Benoit Calvet fell in love with Utiel-Requena and for their longstanding Bordeaux-based project The couple was looking for unspoiled landscapes and winemaking traditions and that’s exactly what they found in Utiel-Requena They work closely with Grupo Coviñas and their growers to produce some of the most successful wines bearing the DO Utiel-Requena stamp when Valérie Bataille and Benoit Calvet met and forged what would become a life-changing relationship: as a family and as professional partners they returned to Bordeaux to create their negociant business building upon the experience of Benoit’s father himself an independent wine trader since 1975 Maison BVC (Benoit and Valérie Calvet) was thus born in 1985 they managed to develop a tight network of like-minded partners that allowed them to follow each wine from grape to bottle creativity and entrepreneurial spirit led them to the creation of their first own-brand Bordeaux wine Valérie and Benoit’s Spanish projects gained significant momentum in the following two decades eventually leading to the creation of a sister company allowing them to bottle and supervise the origin and quality of their Spanish portfolio While BVC Bodegas produces wines in multiple Spanish regions – Utiel-Requena Rueda and Catalunya – it is DO Utiel-Requena that takes pride of place not just as the company’s home but also of BVC Bodegas’ most iconic wines and brands seen in shelves and recognised by consumers the world over The first wines under the Toro Loco label were released in 2009 consolidating a close partnership with the 3000 growers and technical team of Grupo Coviñas Having since invested in their own vineyards and winery in Requena Valérie and Benoit wanted to be an active part of the local community respecting the knowledge accumulated by generations of passionate people For it was this terroir that the couple recognised as the invaluable source of a viticultural and oenological heritage that is expressed in each bottle of Toro Loco wine Located at 600 to 900 meters above sea level Utiel-Requena offers an ideal ripening environment the altitude and the wide diurnal temperature range balanced conditions have catalysed a strong ecological shift in the D.O. with 30% of Utiel-Requena’s vineyard area already certified organic As an active member of this transformation BVC Bodegas released its first organic references in 2014 Benoit refers to the authenticity and simplicity he found in Utiel-Requena and the many friendships he forged as a source of endless inspiration and joy he found a proximity to the land – and the people that care for it – that has long been lost in other wine regions; a sense of trust value and cooperation that in turn expresses itself in wines that are expressive and complex while also being approachable BVC Bodegas’ winery in Requena has also become a laboratory for Benoit Five years ago he introduced  the use of tinajas which now occupy a privileged corner in the winery It is in these historical vessels that Benoit has been producing a wine aged under a continuous vibration of 432 Hz (see tasting note below) 432 Hz is mathematically harmonious with the universe – it is known as Verdi’s ‘A’ named after Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi Music tuned to 432 Hz is softer and brighter and is said to provide greater clarity and have a calming effect by reducing heart rate and blood pressure That is for tasters to discover – but certainly the same sense of peace and harmony that Valérie Bataille and Benoit Calvet found in Utiel-Requena Located in Valencia province in eastern Spain, DO Utiel-Requena has a long history of producing wine but isn’t a region that’s weighed down by tradition this innovative and forward-thinking DO has plenty to offer both winemakers and wine lovers Its dynamic approach is firmly rooted in its heritage, its land and its people. That heritage is founded on thousands of years of winemaking history Archaeological remains dating back as far as the 6th century BCE provide evidence of winemaking first by Phoenician settlers This flourishing viticultural scene was developed by locals over subsequent generations creating the unique character of the region’s wines today Bobal now accounts for 67% of plantings in the DO’s 32,560ha of vineyards What’s more, nearly half of these plantings are old vines; a rich resource for the area’s winemakers, as well as a safeguard against climate change. Naturally tolerant to drought, Bobal is better suited to extremes of temperature than other grape varieties and the DO is funding a research project, ValoraBobal to identify clones capable of adapting to climate change and producing high quality wines This is one example of how the human factor is driving the wine industry in Utiel-Requena wine is the economic engine of the area and the DO is keen to capitalise on its many advantages Proximity to Valencia (just one hour away) has created an opportunity for wine tourism the beautiful Hoces del Cabriel nature reserve and unique regional gastronomy among attractions for visitors Geographically the region is also in a good location for transportation and logistics for both the domestic market and exports Crucially Bobal offers a point of differentiation in the international wine market The past decade has seen a huge change in the grape’s fortunes as winemakers have pushed the bar to create high-quality authentic single-varietal wines that are capturing the attention of wine lovers around the world An increasing number of wineries are joining DO Utiel-Requena as they realise that by working together it is easier to maintain and grow this international presence information and support from other producers gives them a competitive edge that they simply wouldn’t have working alone As one producer notes below: ‘Unity gives strength.’ Among the benefits of belonging to the DO are easier routes to market and improved visibility and credibility for individual brands The council also has a certification service to ensure the quality specifications for DO – an additional guarantee of confidence for consumers Read on to discover why wineries are committed to working with the DO to tell the story of Utiel-Requena and its wines… Five wineries explain why they are proud to produce wines in Utiel-Requena and recommend one of their wines that expresses the unique terroir of the region comes from a wine-growing family going back three generations He was a pioneer in making wines with Tardana We’ve renovated our winery and bought land to expand our cultivation of Tardana We buy old vineyards and take care of the grapes ‘DO Utiel-Requena has potential; it’s connected to the world and better wines are being made all the time Being within the DO benefits us because it’s hard for one winery to distinguish itself in the world of wine If there are many wineries doing things well Wine to try: Parsimonia Bobal de autor 2017 fermented in new French oak and aged on lees for four months Intense aromas of plum compote and blueberries with hints of balsamic and mocha A balanced wine: full-bodied and silky textured ‘I’m from France but I love Spain and have visited for many years It is full of nature; red earth and green leaves I have been producing wine here for 20 years ‘A great advantage of the DO is that it can produce wines with freshness thanks to the altitude of the vineyards and the cold nights The second advantage is the organic potential Bobal grape bunches are shaped like a bull’s head which gave us the idea for our Toro Loco brand There are now 3,000 wine-growers involved in the project ‘Toro Loco is now a global brand and is in the top 10 of Spanish wine brands exported in the world the co-ops and the DO have worked together learning how to make more international wines ‘I am a Frenchman who is betting on authenticity I believe in the potential of Utiel-Requena and the concept of a DO with identity and authenticity.’ A blend of Spanish grapes Tempranillo (50%) and Bobal (30%) with Merlot and Shiraz (10% each) aged for three years including one year in American oak Attractive ripe fruit notes of plum and black cherry paired with hints of vanilla ‘We are a Belgian family that relocated to Spain in 2012 to start a brand new winery: De Moya moving to a foreign country with three small children and jumping into a new project needed good preparation ‘I travelled through Spain for nine months When searching for the perfect location I had three criteria that were very important to me: I wanted to make a powerful red wine using an indigenous grape variety and it had to have the potential to offer high quality wines for a reasonable price I arrived in the region of DO Utiel-Requena and fell in love with the Bobal grape with a good acidity that produces well-structured ‘The region includes many old dry-farmed vineyards situated in a wonderful setting between forests and mountains complex and exciting wines that pair well with food ‘In the winery we let two worlds meet: old craftsmanship and modern technology That’s how we produce high quality wines for a reasonable price: “affordable luxury” Maria is a blend of 90% Bobal and 10% Merlot from vines aged between 35 and 45 years old dried figs and blueberry jam with notes of spice ‘Our great-great-grandfather founded the company in Rioja and generation after generation we’ve been adapting to the times my father began to travel the world and expand our range of wines Customers began to demand more variety from us ‘In 1997 my father and uncle travelled to Requena and fell in love with the altitude of the vineyards and with Bobal We began making wines at the Requenense Wine Cooperative; it started small This is the only area where you can find Bobal which is an important point of difference in the market Bobal is making a name for itself as a source of high-quality wines ‘We have fallen in love with the region’s aged wines With American oak they give spectacular results ‘Positioning the wines of the DO Utiel-Requena as quality wines will benefit all wineries; educating consumers and creating a brand for everyone Wine to try: Faustino Rivero Ulecia Reserva 2016 A blend of Bobal and Tempranillo from vineyards at 700m ‘The Valsangiacomo family has been in the world of wine since 1831 the fourth generation started to work with Viticultores de SanJuan cooperative in Requena This tiny winery in a small village preserves old concrete tanks for winemaking ‘Since 2009 the fifth generation of the family has owned the SanJuan winery starting a project based on old Bobal vines and cooperative working in order to continue the legacy of viticultores in the SanJuan area It promotes recovery and job stability in a rural area and the attachment of the population to its village ‘We like the philosophy of cooperativism; we work side-by-side with growers to give added value to what they have been doing all their lives Our initial inspiration for this project 14 years ago was the recovery of old Bobal vineyards We have a responsibility to safeguard our wine heritage so we work to prevent Bobal vines from being uprooted aged for 10 months in a raw concrete tank to preserve the fruit expression The palate is fresh and elegant with firm tannins peppery spice and good depth of ripe strawberry and cherry fruit Award-winning wine Toro Loco illustrates the potential of the region of Utiel-Requena in Spain the wine won a gold medal at IWSC competition before retailer Aldi then “made a major contrbution” to the development of the brand in the UK with it now distributed in more than 25 countries Located at an elevation ranging from 600 to 900 metres above sea level the Utiel-Requena region has a unique combination of factors that contribute to the creation of its wines The Mediterranean breezes that sweep through the region coupled with the varying altitudes and wide diurnal temperature range Warm days and cool nights offer a “perfect balance” allowing the grapes to ripen gradually while retaining their acidity and developing complex flavors central to the winemaking tradition of Utiel-Requena This indigenous grape thrives in the region’s unique terroir showcasing its resilience and adaptability Known for its deep colour and this robust structure Toro Loco blends it with Tempranillo for its superior red wine to develop aromas of strawberries and fleshy cherries with a 2022 vintage “built on freshness” Toro Loco has been working with 3,000 winegrower families to offer more responsible wines as well vines have never needed special treatments and in these ideal conditions it has instilled a strong ecological shift to such an extent that today 30% of the D.O the brand started offering its first organic wines The Toro Loco brand has also undergone a number of innovations when La Finca Música was created: a wine aged for 18 months in clay amphoras called Tinajas at a frequency of 432Htz – the so-called “frequency of the earth” which means “Little brother” in Spanish to provide an option for those who want to enjoy a great tasting wine with a lower alcohol percentage fresh and full of juicy cherry aromas red wine is only 10% ABV We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Bodegas Utielanas has roots in the Utiel-Requena region that are both long and deep The cooperative – currently numbering 600 members – was set up almost 100 years ago in the very centre of the town that bears its name being based in the famous circular building that’s now home to the region’s regulating wine council As you’d expect for a winery dealing with some 12-16m kg of grapes a year The 300m frontage of the winery itself stretches most of the length of Marin Lazaro Avenue; the multitude of tanks presses and wineries covering an astonishing 17,000m² The 2,800ha farmed by the co-op’s members are used to grow stalwart grape varieties of the region: Bobal winemaker Pedro Cárcel makes 14m litres of wine a year white and rosé versions: Castillo de Utiel Sueños del Mediterráneo and Sierra Rampina They must have liked it because they came back again 30 years later for lunch And maybe a bottle or two of the co-op’s flagship (and silver medal-winning) Vega Infante Crianza and a third of them (Toro Loco and El Toro Macho) are bull-related It’s hard to think how they could be more proudly Spanish the ‘bull’ reference is not directly to do with the famous toro of the bullring so much as the fact that the region’s signature grape variety Bobal is reckoned to resemble a bull’s head in shape and gets its name from ‘bovale’ meaning just that Though the winery also makes wine from Tempranillo that’s the nickname given by locals to one of the winery’s founders when he first floated the idea of setting up the winery It seems that Señor Toro Loco has had the last laugh Since 2009 the winery has grown steadily and now works with some 3,000 growers in the region BVC has always put a big emphasis on sustainable methods and works with like-minded producers to create a strong ecological network If you find the myriad grape varieties and wine styles of Utiel-Requena on Spain’s east coast a tad confusing then this winery will come as a blessed relief The Valsangiacomo family set up this project in the village of SanJuan to concentrate on one grape only: Bobal Their plan was to showcase what this widely planted and often under-appreciated grape was really capable of – both in red and rosé they decided to source their grapes mostly from growers with old Many of these vineyards are over 70 years old while the family-owned 10ha estate features some of the most ancient Bobal vines in the DO: an impressive 80 years old The winemaking team is careful not to mask the character of such seriously good fruit with the wines both fermented and aged in concrete for a year This smooths out some of the edges on the young wines but the lack of oak influence allows the pure fruit quality of the Bobal to shine through The family’s top Clos de SanJuan wine does see 18 months of oak so the wood influence is carefully controlled It’s just what the family intended – a superb example of Bobal’s potential you need to have vision so you can see past the bumps in the road to a glorious end destination And that was certainly the case for Julian Lopez and his wife Maria José when the couple bought their winery back in 1990 But it was also long abandoned and practically a ruin But the pair lavished love and attention on the buildings and land alike leaving them with 11 varieties to play with: local classics such as Macabeo as well as globetrotters like Cabernet Sauvignon in amongst all this work they also found time to bring up a family and their diligence in the latter paid off Now their children – also called Julian and Maria Jose – are taking over the reins from their proud parents Quality has always taken precedence over quantity at this 100ha estate when Chozas Carrascal was awarded Spain’s hallowed Vino de Pago status There are plenty of wines to choose from here is a blend of all eight red grape varieties planted on the farm – the essence of the estate in one glass Until the 1990s nearly all of the wine in Utiel-Requena was sold as bulk But the move towards estate bottling was kicked off It started bottling the region’s key grape variety In fact that wine was one of the first outside Penedès to become part of the Cava DO A more or less even split of red clay at the lower levels and chalky/clay or limestone higher up though the families are proud to have been trailblazers (once again) in planting Sauvignon Blanc They know their patch of land like the back of their hand and are leading researchers into the effect of climate change in the DO ‘We know the importance of listening to nature,’ they say Such listening is best captured in the flagship Finca La Beata wine single-vineyard Bobal made with a 30-day maceration 18 months in oak and a further 18 months in bottle before release 1967 was a good year for fans of The Beatles as the band released both its Sergeant Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour albums It was also a good year for hundreds of wine-growers in the high plains west of Valencia The winery’s Vino de la Reina (named after the harvest queen) was the first quality wine to be bottled in what was to become the Utiel-Requena DO the creation of facilities for making cava and an award from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture In 2003 the group stopped distillation to focus only on wine opening an enormous storage cellar of 10,000 barrels Not just because the group’s 3,000 growers bring in grapes from 10,000ha of vineyard between them but also because the winery has concentrated increasingly on making smaller more exclusive bottlings – most of which require time in barrel But the group’s vineyards range from some of the lowest in the region (600m) to some of the highest giving them a real magical mystery tour of styles to choose from The original winery and cellar at Pago de Tharsys might date back over 200 years – the first cellars were excavated out of a thick seam of limestone bedrock in 1808 – but there’s resolutely nothing old-fashioned about this venture when Ana Suria and Vicente Garcia first embarked on their ambitious project Located on the main road between the towns of Utiel and Requena the estate could hardly be more ‘of the region’ but the pair didn’t want to limit themselves to the tried-and-tested route So along with the dry Bobal and Macabeo wines that you might expect winemaker Garcia also makes a barrel-fermented Chardonnay a night-harvested Albariño and a sweet wine (all organic) There’s also a range of liqueurs and half a dozen Cavas and sparkling wines – indeed the small-volume Tharsys Unico Brut Reserva There’s no better way of getting to know them all than paying a visit The estate is exceptionally well set-up for tourists with several different wine tours and a number of tasting options – including the chance to taste with the winemaker Accommodation – both in a country cottage and via their small hotel – could be an option if you want to make the most of the tasting It takes courage to be the first person to plant vines in an area – so much credit must go to the growers who planted the first vineyard in Camporrobles in 1914 in the far northwest of the Utiel-Requena DO is located at over 900m above sea level Such factors didn’t bother Manuel Olmo or his friend when they set up Vinos Sierra Norte (the aptly named North Sierra Wines) in 1999 Both come from local wine-growing families and are used to the unique terroir and climate of the area Manuel – now the MD and winemaker – was keen to do two things: farm organically and resurrect the fortunes of the native Bobal variety Vinos Sierra Norte’s Pasión de Bobal is a great example of why his decision was a good choice Though he is happy to blend Bobal with other varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon The 60-year-old Bobal vines planted on limestone soils give a wine of poise and elegance that regularly picks up top medals around the world ‘They are wines with soul that are meant to be drunk and enjoyed,’ says Manuel The greatest lesson Félix Martínez Roda learnt from his father there’s simply the need to love wine.’ This remains the main principle guiding him at the helm of the family’s estate as the guardian of a unique legacy: an unfailing commitment to the region of Utiel-Requena and to Bobal Vera de Estena’s library cellar has some of the oldest examples of the region’s flagship variety proving its potential to produce age-worthy wines Francisco Martínez Bermell settled in Utiel to take the helm of his family’s production winery With him he brought a strong connection with his family’s wine lineage and a deep hope in better days to come Soon after establishing himself in Requena Francisco met his wife-to-be; together they started their own project Having developed a close friendship with Don Pascual Carrión then the director of the progressive Oenologic Station of Requena the couple delved deeper into the history and terroir of the region gaining invaluable technical knowledge and an understanding of how this land could yield the best grapes to produce world-class wines The culmination of this process would be the release of Vera de Estenas’ first bottled wines in the 1980s when the family was already settled at Casa Don Ángel – still the company’s operational and spiritual headquarters today Francisco was already being helped by his older sons in the stewardship of the family’s winery to fully take over from his father and lead Vera de Estenas into the 21st century Félix Martínez Roda – alongside his nephew Eduardo – is the guardian of this incredible entrepreneurial wood…’ – the elements that shape the philosophy of Vera de Estenas simple components that draw a direct connection between the vineyard and the glass imbued with an unpretentious classicism – these are wines that transcend fashions and the test of time the varieties and of the people whose lives have been intertwined with them from birth is a thread of memories and emotions – a narrative of a personal connection to the land of Utiel-Requena Each bottle still evokes the afternoon when its founder was taken by his grandmother Filomena to the family winery in El Grao the small seaside village where his great grandfather Don Pedro Pons had strategically built it close to the port Francisco was overwhelmed with wonder at the sight of the big vats spiralling staircases and imposing oak vessels He would never forget the complex aroma that filled the winery – cleanliness – a memory that accompanied and inspired him until his last days The same memory that guides Félix and Eduardo today there’s simply the need to love wine.’ Nearly 40% of the world’s total Bobal plantings are in Utiel-Requena accounting for 67% of plantings in the DO’s 32,560ha of vineyards nearly half of Utiel-Requena’s Bobal vines are old vines A research project – ValoraBobal – aims to strengthen that position in two ways researching ways to take advantage of Bobal’s inherent hot by identifying the worth and value – both economic and emotional – of this old-vine heritage the aim is to encourage growers to preserve Utiel-Requena is located in the autonomous community of Valencia in central eastern Spain The eastern boundary of the appellation is 65km from the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia This inland vineyard area is a transitional plateau between the coast and the Castilian end of Spain’s high central plateau (meseta) The DO has an average elevation of 720m above sea level with vineyards ranging in elevation from about 650m to more than 900m among the foothills towards the central meseta as the region comprises many valleys and small hills Despite relative proximity to the Mediterranean Sea the significant elevation creates a more continental climate High elevation shortens the growing season for vines compared to lower elevations It also creates significant diurnal temperature variation during the growing season: night-time cooling helps to retain acid in the grapes It is already well-adapted to these conditions – it is both heat-tolerant These are two of the attributes ValoraBobal aims to build on Combining two decades of regional climate data and data from the first phase of research (2018 to 2020) the team have tentatively proposed some possible areas with broadly different climatic features This is helping to inform the next phases of the project which will explore in detail parameters such as soils vineyard site climate (smaller scale than the regional climate) How is it – and where is it – that old vines have survived What parameters explain any differences in fruit quality produced is the world’s 13th most widely planted grape variety deeply coloured Bobal was mixed with commercial blends to boost the colour of these wines It is only in the last decade or so that its high quality potential is being identified It seems this variety has been hiding its light under a bush(el) vine It also turns out that Bobal inherently has a lot of good things going for it The heat- and drought-tolerance of the grape confer a natural advantage in a climate-heating world with its deep colour and dark berry fruit flavours it is capable of producing quality wines which might normally encourage greater sugar production Bobal tends to produce rather modest sugar levels resulting in wines with rather modest alcohol levels grapes are able to maintain good acid levels during ripening Added to which Bobal has a naturally high concentration of resveratrol in its skins which means the variety’s naturally high tannin levels may be both ripe and unripe on the same bunch In one high quality example that’s already being produced ‘velvety’ has been used to describe the ripe tannin texture achieved The tannin conundrum forms part of the research agenda ValoraBobal is an 11 year research project that started in 2018 the director of certification at the Consejo Regulador of Utiel-Requena DO is to carry out: ‘Research that would demonstrate the value of [our] great wine heritage that we have in our territory that seal of identity that identifies us as DO.’ which promotes research in the Valencian agri-food sector Its aims are to identify clones that are capable of both adapting to climate change and retaining the ability to grow Bobal healthily and sustainably as well as producing grapes with traits that enable high quality winemaking It is hoped that the science will highlight the value reposited in the region’s old vines and encourage growers to preserve their viticultural heritage One outcome is the speculative idea around sub-regional climatic differences The major outcome is that the DO’s oldest Bobal vines have been mapped a longlist of 100 phenotypes (genes-plus-environment) has been identified These have been planted in a dedicated research vineyard to monitor all the above attributes during Phase Two (2020 to 2023) Planted alongside the longlisted phenotypes are existing Bobal clones that have been commercially available for 30 years Performance data are already well established for these clones so they are expected to act as a sort of ‘control’ for the research It’s anticipated that from the results of the analyses of this second phase a shortlist of around 30 clones will be selected While it is impossible to predict the results of research that has not yet taken place it would be logical to imagine that clones which include earlier-ripening traits would be suitable for cooler (higher elevation) vineyards clones with accentuated drought tolerance might be the best fit for drier areas less compact bunches might improve homogeneity of within-bunch tannin ripening the Rivero family has pioneered the production of quality wines in key Spanish wine regions The adventure started in Rioja and expanded to the Basque Country Since finding its home in the land of Bobal the wines of Faustino Rivero Ulecia have shown the variety’s versatility character and expressiveness – from crisp rosés the company has been producing benchmark examples of the regional flagship grape since the 1980s The origins of Faustino Rivero Ulecia date back to 1899 when Olegario Riverio opened his small winery in the heart of the town of Arnedo His production was sold locally in wineskins and wine boots Second generation Agapito Rivero would indeed become a boot maker meeting the demand not only for his family’s business but also for other winemakers In addition to producing wineskins and boots these craftsmen also acted as brokers between growers and producers playing a key role in the local economic ecosystem was passed on to third generation Amador and Faustino Rivero who anticipated great opportunities for growth in the Spanish wine sector They therefore decided to invest their time and knowledge exclusively in wine production and trade They sourced the best grapes from several villages in Rioja Oriental producing wine which they then sold in local markets Amador and Faustino expanded the company’s trade to other regions – Basque Country Catalonia and Galicia – selling their production in chestnut barrels This period of commercial growth allowed the family to improve winemaking standards and technical expertise – in the 1960s they bought their first bottling line to release their first bottled wines under the brand ‘Chitón’ It was not until the late 1970s that the first wines bottled under Faustino Rivero Ulecia were released a milestone that coincided with pivotal changes implemented by the fourth generation Their viticultural and oenological training allowed them to support the consolidation of the family’s company state-of-the-art winery in the outskirts of Arnedo This served as the springboard for a pioneering commercial effort in export markets with the company gaining market leadership in countries such as Denmark and Sweden This in turn gave the family the motivation and confidence to expand to other interesting winemaking regions in Spain Faustino Rivero Ulecia recognised the unique potential of the Mediterranean altitude terroir and of the flagship local variety to produce wines of great expressiveness and character 1988 marked the release of the company’s first DO Utiel-Requena bottling; almost four decades later some of the expressions of Bobal produced by Faustino Rivero Ulecia have true status as classics But the company’s foremost mission remains to make quality wines available to consumers around the world What differentiates and defines Faustino Rivero Ulecia is its lineage of passion running from its humble beginnings to the great wines produced and sold worldwide today Bodegas Vibe was born out of a love for the unique food and wine traditions of Utiel-Requena the Vicente family partnered with a talented winemaker to bring their project of passion to life Each wine pays tribute to the flavours of this corner of the Mediterranean with a particularly firm belief in Bobal and Tardana as the varieties that best express the essence of the region Raúl Vicente Bezjak and winemaker Juan Carlos García López already knew each other from a previous project Although with different experiences and backgrounds they shared the same work ethics passion for the land and grapes of Utiel-Requena Raúl brough Juan Carlos on board to steer the winery operations at newly-created Bodegas Vibe Through the transformation of a pre-existing farm the new project focused on the creation of characterful wines representative of the region’s traditions and of the love for the land of Utiel-Requena Located on the edge of Requena’s municipal perimeter the winery is surrounded by the region’s unspoiled quintessentially Mediterranean landscape whose colours smells and flavours Bodegas Vibe wish to translate into each bottle In both vineyard and cellar the focus has been on harnessing and promoting the potential of the flagship grape varieties: Tardana are ideally suited to produce powerful fruit while retaining that distinctive freshness and lift that makes them so inviting and food-friendly at the helm of different – and very successful – restaurants and catering ventures the Vicente family knows all too well what it takes to create a perfect moment around the pleasures of food and wine They bring a passionate and pragmatic approach to the work at Bodegas Vibe always thinking of wine as a vehicle of celebration and enjoyment This perspective is perfectly complemented by Juan Carlos’ technical acumen and constant will to experiment In the cellar he’s been particularly eager to explore the character of Tardana and the best way to bring out its best expressions In recognition of this work of precision and dedication and of the project’s evolution and consistency Bodegas Vibe were awarded the ‘Premio a la Mejor Bodega de Utiel Requena’ (Best Winery of Utiel-Requena) in 2020 by the region’s Oenophile Circle the circle thanked ‘all those that are part of the project,’ explaining that it was ‘an injection of confidence and will to pursue the production of wines of great quality.’ what defines Bodegas Vibe: a great energy to always move forward make ideas come true and champion the best that the land of Utiel-Requena has to offer Each bottle evokes moments of shared pleasure and inspiration with the region’s landscape as backdrop and its people as companions When new wineries are opening their doors it’s proof of a healthy wine region And there could be no better proof of the newfound excitement surrounding the DO of Utiel-Requena than Bodegas Jiménez-Vila Hermanos Founded by Marisa Jiménez-Vila and her brother Jorge (‘hermanos’ means ‘siblings’ in Spanish) in 2017 it’s a winery that seems to encapsulate the spirit of proud regional expression the quest for modernity and the drive for quality that have transformed this part of Spain the pair don’t own any of their own vineyards yet they have carried out extensive research to find top quality vineyards establishing long-term relationships with the growers there Their winemaker Mario Malafosse – a graduate of Bordeaux University – has extensive experience making wines all round France and Spain but here the team are concentrating on local grape varieties But they also have an intriguing oak-fermented white which is made up of 60% local white Tardana and 40% Sauvignon Blanc Their ‘grand vin’ – a 100% Bobal with 20 months in barrel and 12 months in bottle launches this year Adolfo de las Heras Marín was one of the first to spot the potential of the Utiel-Requena region He bought his 540ha estate the same year that the first version of Windows was released the winery has undergone plenty of updates of its own Right from the start he was always trying to make seriously premium wines and brought in the likes of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to help him do it But the process of pushing boundaries has since been carried on by his son (also Adolfo) who introduced the likes of Syrah Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc into the vineyards when he took over from his father at the end of the 1990s The bedrock of the bodega’s production is still Bobal It makes up 80% of the 200ha of vineyard (the rest of the estate is forest) and El Renegado (‘renegade’) red is a celebration of the old vines that fill the estate All the fruit comes from 50-year-old plus vines But if you want proof of how well the incoming grapes have settled here look no further than the bodega’s two flagship Nodus wines Nodus Summun is a Tempranillo-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend with 14 months in French oak; the white a 100% Chardonnay with just three months in barrel but charge three-star prices you’re going to have happy customers But the team at Bodegas Torre Oria has got the gift of over-delivery down to a fine art The winery was founded in 1897 in a former silk-spinning mill making Torre Oria one of the oldest bodegas in the region Located more-or-less slap bang in the middle of the Utiel-Requena DO its 500ha of vineyards are planted on typical high-altitude Today the winery has some vineyards of Bobal and Monastrell (Mourvedre) that are over 80 years old Torre Oria’s flagship Viñedo Antiguo Bobal (‘Old Vineyard Bobal) is one of its most sought-after wines the gnarly old vine on the label reminding drinkers just why it’s so special At the other end of the stylistic spectrum Bodegas Torre Oria is also well known for its cavas One of the first makers of sparkling wines in the region the winery uses Macabeo and Chardonnay – which it calls ‘the queen of sparkling’ – for its whites It was founded in 2015 to replace an old winery that had been operating for several generations and from the start its focus was clear: this was to be a winery that was a celebration of all things local Located within the borders of the town of Requena it sits towards the eastern side of the DO Though it’s closer to the coast than some vineyards in Utiel-Requena it’s still high: the 25ha of vines are planted at 700m above sea level which gives their wines depth and structure This terroir is particularly well suited to indigenous varieties so although Vibe does have small amounts of international grapes the vast majority of what it grows is Bobal for reds and Tardana for whites Tardana gets its name from being an exceptionally late-ripening variety (‘tarde’ means ‘late’ in Spanish) and in the winery’s Tardana Parsimonia gives a pale tropical-flavoured wine with hints of anis Bobal is used for everything from the winery’s juicy where the grape’s trademark structure is softened with some time in oak Vibe’s flagship Parsimonia Bobal de Autor is an even more serious – and seriously ambitious – expression of the variety Olegario Rivero set up a small winery in the Riojan town of Arnedo his descendants were not just selling wine all over the world but also starting to make wine in other regions of Spain In 1997 they dipped their toes into the vineyards of the Utiel-Requena DO They didn’t plant any white varieties and they had no plans to make cava this was all about Bobal – the native hero – and Tempranillo a variety that they already knew well thanks to their winemaking experience in Rioja Whilst their joven (young) red is 100% Bobal the other three reds in the range are a combination of both grapes comes from soils that are a combination of sand with toasty notes from two years ageing in French and American oak and vindication of both the family’s winemaking philosophy – to achieve the maximum expression of the local grapes and the local terroir – and of their belief in the ability of the Utiel-Requena DO to make great wine and Requenan by nature – this cooperative is based right in the town that bears its name It takes fruit from over 800ha of vineyards which are planted at an average height of 700m above sea level there is little sea influence during the day but at night – thanks to the altitude – temperatures drop the Vinícola Requenense co-op has always been forward-thinking the first winery in the region to install a bottling line At a time when almost all of the region’s wines were sold in bulk it was a bold commitment to quality – and one that the co-op has continued with ever since you could hardly find a more fitting example of this premium focus than in the top Premium Collection wines: Palacio Imperial and Señorio de Mestalla The latter range – with its striking monochrome labels – features crianza with six months in oak and a further three months in bottle really over-delivers Made with grapes from the co-op’s oldest and best Bobal vineyards it picked up an impressive 95 points (and a Gold Medal) in the Decanter Asia Wine Awards Francisco Martinez Bermell was taken to visit his grandfather’s wine cellar in the port town of El Grao soaring spiral staircases and giant fermenting tanks made a big impression on him and years later he set up his own winery on a small hill on the road between Utiel and Requena Today the estate is still run by the descendants of Don Francisco who welcome visitors to the winery as part of the Utiel-Requena Wine Route The original site has been expanded with the building of the modernist Casa Don Ángel to hold cellars and warehouses The 45ha vineyard includes old vines of French varieties Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Spanish grapes Tempranillo and Bobal which is a particular focus for the winery the vineyard has a unique geographical location and as a result has the official consideration of Vino de Pago The wines of Vera de Estenas are ambitious and designed for ageing In 2016 the winery created its limited-edition Vera de Estenas Reserva Released in 2019 to celebrate the centenary of the winery it’s an intense expression of Bobal from – fittingly – 100-year-old vineyards Bobal sits only behind Tempranillo and Garnacha in a ranking of Spain’s red grape plantings the grape is increasingly recognised for quality in smaller appellations to the east BVC Bodegas (a Spanish subsidiary of AdVini) puts Bobal to use in its internationally accoladed Toro Loco range and the 3,000 families working in the cooperative behind it it is the perfect marriage of region and variety a name which gives some indication of the fun market position Both grape variety and region combine for a range that is deliberately friendly Bobal is an ideal match for the consumer-friendly wines; indeed the grape’s name was the inspiration for the branding and so named for its tight bunches that resemble a bull’s head The opportunity for a characterful brand was immediately plain Yet the grape’s viticultural qualities also made it a clear asset in producing an accessible brand which features either in single varietal wines or in tandem with other Spanish grapes has allowed BVC Bodegas to build an effective identity the grape flies under the radar with international consumers As more and more drinkers wish to explore local varieties using a grape native to Utiel Requena offers a point of difference The grape is also ideal for making accessible wines It naturally creates an approachable style that matches international tastes The flavour profile – velvety red and black fruits – has similarities with wine list mainstays such as Malbec Merlot and its Spanish sibling Tempranillo When grown in the potentially blistering Spanish heat it retains acidity and relatively low alcohol levels for a more manageable red It even has notably high levels of antioxidants Utiel Requena has a boutique interest for consumers looking beyond the big players the region sits on a high altitude plateau that averages 750m in altitude The higher sites and Mediterranean influence keep the wines fresh in an area where ripeness is seldom an issue and growing as it responds to market trends As the average drinker becomes more knowledgeable about sustainability the Toro Loco brand has enacted new initiatives: lighter bottles vegan production and minimising vineyard treatments The overall result is a brand that can proudly advertise its quality and origins even as it remains affordable for the mass market Certainly the ‘crazy bull’ brand adds fun appeal to the range perhaps the sensible bull – ‘Toro Sensato’ – would not sell as many bottles now in the hands of second generation Mariá José and Julián Having inherited the estate founded by their parents the siblings have led its expansion from 26 to 100 hectares (80 of which planted to vines) Chozas Carrascal owns impressive historical viticultural assets that provide the raw material for expressive wines in which acidity freshness and texture play the central roles In 1990 María José Peidro and Julián López fell in love with a high altitude site in Utiel-Requena which intimated its potential to produce world class wines and under it an incredible historical cellar The husband-and-wife team bought the land and delved deep into its history and viticultural traditions to fully understand the intricacies of the local terroirs and the ancestral knowledge of the local growers The future of Chozas Carrascal started being forged with a close connection to the past reflected in the estate’s name itself: Chozas was the nickname the grandfather of Julián López was tenderly known by and the project pays tribute both to his connection to his vines and to the strong bond with his grandson; Carrascal refers to the native holm oaks that grow across the estate and make its landscape so distinct After 10 years of studious mapping of the estate’s soils and replanting of the vines tailored to each of them a winery was built in time for the 2003 inaugural vintage The building was designed with an eye on efficiency and to allow the vinification of each parcel separately The winery’s state-of-the-art facilities included the pioneering reintroduction of concrete fermentation vats The family values that informed the beginning of Chozas Carrascal remain as the guiding principles of all the work done at the estate today both in the vineyard and cellar: efficiency These same values come through in the wines of Chozas Carrascal with a strong Mediterranean character defined by a distinct savoury appeal and textural complexity lends them a distinct drive and mineral backbone highlighting the incredible potential and character of the 750 to 840-metres altitude plateau on which the Chozas estate sits There’s a sense of experimentation rooted in tradition creating wines that are at once innovative and classical The fundamental axis that structures the range is the unique landscape of their corner of the DO Utiel-Requena which the López-Peidro are determined to preserve for future generations Hence the commitment to organic farming and to the promotion of the intrinsic biodiversity of their land Standing alongside textbook examples of Bobal and Macabeo are truly idiosyncratic takes on the varieties grown at the estate exploring different styles and the limits of varietal expression Leading this spirit of innovation anchored in tradition Mariá José and Julián have confidently led Chozas Carrascal into its fourth decade of existence having consolidated the commitment to sustainability and the will to experiment is the dynamic force behind the commercial marketing and hospitality sides of the business The two siblings epitomise the very essence of Chozas Carrascal: a focused attention to the land and vines; a creative force that has opened new perspectives for the future of Chozas and of DO Utiel-Requena Dominio de La Vega builds upon experience and tradition while driven by the constant will to innovate The company has invested tremendously in research and development contributing not only to the increasing quality of its wines but to the pool of resources available to all of the region’s stakeholders the wines of Dominio de La Vega combine a classic poise with a modern texture that is in fact very evocative of tradition Dominio de La Vega was founded in 2001 by a group of families combined knowledge of the land of Utiel-Requena they decided to start a project that could focus on quality by leveraging their experience and intimacy with the region’s terroirs and its flagship grape Dominio de La Vega would then quickly come to the forefront of research and understanding of Bobal quiet and determined effort whose importance was not immediately recognised but is now seen as an invaluable contribution to the region Dominio de La Vega produces some of the most traditional benchmark examples of age-worthy Bobal – namely Paraje Tornel and Finca La Beata (see tastings notes below) – from equally prized They form part of a collection of vineyards located in the different terroirs of La Vega selected not only for the quality of the fruit they yield but also for their singular characteristics The winemaking approach at Dominio de La Vega is inextricably linked to the viticultural work; each wine is a product of a careful interpretation of each terroir and of how each vine responds to it alongside six other producers of Utiel-Requena focused on the phenolic analysis of Bobal wines hailing from different terroirs This is but one of many research initiatives Dominio de La Vega has been or is involved in in areas ranging from climate change mitigation to market analysis Underlying all of Dominio de la Vega’s research and innovation efforts is a commitment to holistic sustainability The company is implementing strategies to improve its performance across all operational sectors with only one thing in mind: a sustainable future The new range of organic certified wines already brings all these new elements together In partnership with designer Inma Bermúdez the labels have been stripped of any unnecessary elements reducing ink (of a single colour and water-based) and paper use The collection is packaged in low-weight bottles and all unnecessary packaging elements (such as foil capsules replaced by a biodegradable seal) have been eliminated The wines themselves stand out for their purity unpretentious complexity and textural appeal Named after people that have been important for the history of Dominio de La Vega they also serve as a living tribute to those whose effort is in each bottle Dominio de La Vega’s core philosophy still rests upon the same values that inspired its foundation: simplicity led by award-winning winemaker Daniel Expósito simple goal: producing authentic and expressive wines without ever rushing or ever cutting corners in order to fully express the essence of each vineyard Underscoring it all is a deep respect for the land and all those who labour it today and have laboured in the past In the past, red wines were often underripe and did not respond well to barrel maturation Therefore most producers turned to rosé – which became the staple wine of the designation However, in recent years, attention has been refocused on red wines, including the blending of Bobal with varieties such as Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon Utiel-Requena now produces some excellent examples of young and aged wines a far cry from its bulk production status of the past there are around 34,000 hectares (84,000 acres) of vineyards within the DO There are roughly 100 wineries and 6,000 growers Viticulture is the main industry within the region Utiel-Requena's most notable feature is its uniform climate and topography throughout the whole designation It sits on a plateau 70 kilometers (43 miles) inland from the coast and approximately 700 meters (2,300ft) above sea level The region's location and geography give it a transitional climate between Mediterranean and continental The higher-altitude vineyards (some reaching 900m / 2,950ft) have traditionally shaped the wine styles produced. Early autumn frosts have often forced vineyard owners to harvest their grapes before they have reached optimum phenolic ripeness Grape growing is Utiel-Requena's driving economic force and archaeological finds show viticulture dates back to at least the 7th Century BCE Ancient Romans settled there and introduced improved winemaking techniques The region has enjoyed fame and demand during various periods since, particularly during the late 19th Century. Then, with outbreaks of phylloxera and powdery mildew devastating production in France Utiel-Requena's wines helped to fill the void Utiel-Requena was established as a DO in 1957 The towns of Utiel and Requena lie to the northwest and southeast of the designation respectively This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page