Wines of Valencia

There are some 75 hours over approximately 20 Saturdays between February and December, plus field trips and special events, with over 100 wines being tasted and assessed

I now find that another wine that is being praised in the UK is not sold in Spain, let alone Valencia. This time it is Saleta Moscatel-Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (DO Alicante), which I saw in the Wine Society’s “Complete Spain” Offer.

“Red as Alicante wine” is how James I described the colour of his urine to the royal physician. His predecessor, Elizabeth I, was said to have ““loved Alicant wine above any other”.

…Enguera’s Casa Lluch verdil…at the renascent Oddbins. Congratulations to them for rising like a phoenix from the flames of administration, and also for finding this little bit of Valencia and bringing it to the attention of the UK’s enviably eclectic wine sector.

What led to the withdrawal of Abstracta Vinícola? Was it Joan’s denunciation in his second post of the project spearheaded by the regional ministry of agriculture for a single giant DO Valencia, removing at one fell swoop the historic Alicante wine identity, not to mention Utiel-Requena and Castellón?

…with the great main doors wide open showing the vineyards and countryside beyond teeming with life, it was really quite magical.

It was a privilege to be there, and reminded me that just because a company is big and successful, it doesn’t have to be soulless.

One of the consequences of concentrating on wine and wine events from the Valencia region is that I tend to overlook the long-established powerhouse that is Rioja. I know that there is great wine and great tradition there, and that it is not monolithic. I’ve been reading about “new wave” riojas for years, and it […]