Valencia wine region

The Communidad Valenciana has 3 DO’s: Alicante, Valencia and Utiel Requena. It has a long wine making history, but unfortunately the quality it offers today is often overlooked. This might be a heritage from the past when Bobal -the main red grape in Utiel Requena and also one of the most planted grapes in Spain- used to be grown for bulk wine. However, this is changing and there are great initiatives of innovative wine makers making this a fascinating region close to the Mediterranean coast. One to definitely keep an eye on!

Tasted – Casa Sosegada 2022 – Rafael Cambra

The Valencia DO covers two parts of the Communidad: one north-west of the city of Valencia, close to DO Utiel-Requena. The other part is south of the city of Valencia and borders the DO Alicante. Rafael Cambra is situated in this southern part, in beautiful Fontanars dels Alforins which is called the Toscany of Valencia. If you have the chance to travel here you will indeed see a landscape that is defined by beautiful hills and lovely views. This region is also home of some wineries that focus on preserving forgotten, indigenous grapes. This wine made of grapes grown at 700m is a combination of monastrell -a common grape for the central mediterrenean- together with the local rare grapes forcallat, bonicaire, arco and rojal. It leads to a wine style that is a-typical for warmer Spain: transparant, fresh and light. Limited production. Matured for 12 months in cement so no use of wood.

My wine experience

The wine has a ruby transparant color with fresh cherry, herbs and earthy aromas. The palate is light to medium with medium tannines and alcohol. The wine is both accessible and offers an interesting complexity in a style that is more towards cooler pinot noir than a bold mediterrenean wine.

I love this wine because it surprises and it is yet another example that wine styles can be incredibly varied even in one and the same region. I would drink this lightly chilled with a ligher style meal such a tuna dish or chicken. Salud!

Conclusion

Very good wine for a good price.

Wine info

Year 2022 | Alcohol 13,5% | DO Valencia | Rafael Cambra | Price range EUR 15-20

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