Why you should try a Bobal wine

Did you know that in Spain the Bobal grape is the second planted grape after Tempranillo? Bobal in Spain covers around 60,000 hectares in total and is indigenous to DO Utiel-Requena in the Valencia region where you will find most of the plantings. In this region wine has been made for more than 2,000 years. As we see happening in other parts of Spain, in the last 30 years lots of innovation has happened building on the historic traditions of wine making.

Fresh wines with character

Though Bobal is also produced in Manchuela and Ribera del Júcar, two DO’s in Castilla-La Mancha to the west of Utiel-Requena, the latter may call the grape its home. Utiel-Requena is close to the coast of the Mediterranean however elevations of vineyards can go up to 900 meters here. This is why the climate in this region despite the mediterranean influence is primarily continental. This is an important factor for winemaking as a continental climate will typically bring warm days but cold nights. This difference in temperature during day and night is called diurnal shift and leads to grapes that keep their acidity leading to freshness in the wines.

A changing image

The freshness in Bobal wines is an important characteristic together with the deep, dark red color and moderate alcohol and tannins. These elements have always made it made it a grape suitable for mass production, however the image of Bobal and resulting wines is changing. As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, the Bobal grape can truly give high quality wines with good aging potential. Producers may choose to use less (larger) oak and/or use concrete vessels to give the wine an accessible and fresh character. If you want to try a Bobal wine I can recommend El Terrerazo (Mustiguillo), Las Mercedes or Cherubino Valsangiacomo.

Salud!

Would you like to taste Bobal?

Are you interested in a wine tasting where you will discover and enjoy quality wines, but also learn more about the wine and the wine region where it’s made? Contact me for a private tasting of follow my social channels for open tastings that I regularly host. I am looking forward to meet you there. Salud!