24 hours in Requena
Based in Valencia, I regularly head out to visit historic wine towns in Spain. There are so many interesting places where you can dive into a rich history and discover the local food and wine. This time I went to… Requena, an important wine town in the DO of Utiel-Requena. Read below for some inspiration if you have 24 hours to spend there!
A tour and tasting at the historic bodega of Murviedro
Located in the center of Requena, at Bodegas Murviedro centuries of winemaking tradition come alive between stone walls and oak barrels. This historic bodega offers a nice tour where you’ll discover how the Requena’s chalky soils and continental climate create distinctive wines. You will try the Bobal, the native grape that produces robust reds with notes of dark berries and spice. The guided tour will take you through an ancient cave as well as a nice selection of wines, performed by friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Exploring the ancient caves of La Villa
Descend into Las Cuevas de La Villa, originally carved by Muslim settlers in the 11th and 12th century and throughout the centuries used as shelter, ossuary, food and wine storage and for elaboration of wine. Nearly forgotten until their 1970s restoration, today they function as an underground museum where you will encounter various ancient wine vessels. The space of the caves is surprisingly large and experiencing the ancient ambiance here I believe is fascinating.
Sit back and relax in wine & book store La Contraria
Just a little outside the historic center, La Contraria marries literary and wine culture under one roof. This charming shop offers a nice selection of various types of books including wine, alongside bottles from local producers. The kind staff is happy to pour a sample at their counter and share the story behind the wine. It’s an ideal spot where you can sit down and relax, while discovering a new favorite wine from the region, or pick up a wine book to continue your education. I choose to buy a copy of La Vid y el Vino en Espana written by Juan Piqueras.
Dinner and local wine at restaurant Meson Fortaleza
Housed in the middle of the historic Requena center, Meson Fortaleza serves up authentic regional cuisine that pairs perfectly with Utiel-Requena wines. Begin with embutidos (cured meats) or an ensalada (various salads) before savoring ajoarriero (cod with garlic) or one of their croquetas (i.e. ham or chicken). The restaurant’s wine list showcases several local small-production bottles. I tried the lovely Sentencia and enjoyed it with the cordero al horno (oven cooked lamb). This plate perfectly matched the wine made of 80% Bobal, the red grape that put this region on the wine lover’s map.
Overnight stay in B&B Los Canilleros
End your day with a comfortable rest at B&B Los Canilleros in Requena’s historic quarter, a lovingly restored 18th-century building, originally a cellar house-cave. There are six modern and stylish rooms in this B&B that is hosted by Juan, who is very friendly and service oriented. We enjoyed a complete and very nice breakfast and we ended our stay with a visit to the beautifully restored underground cellar. Juan opened the automated cellar door for us, located in the middle of the breakfast room. A perfect closure of our stay and wine experience in Requena.
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Recommended sites
Wine Tourism in Communidad Valenciana
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Spain is home to many beautiful, but also lesser-known quality wines. With Ivan Wines, I focus on discovering and promoting these wines, the makers and the regions. I am a Dutch Registered Vinologist, Spanish Wine Scholar and WSET Level 3 Wines Certified, and I organize tastings and wine tours from Valencia.
