There are Valencian wines for every moment of the day, for a morning vermouth, a paella in good company, a mid-afternoon drink or a typical dinner on a summer terrace. Far from thinking only of red wine, the assortment opens up and shows other alternatives between white and rosé wines. The Denomination of Origin Utiel-Requena has published its typical guide with a selection of local wines classified according to the ideal moment in which they should be drunk this summer.
It all starts with a wine after “that shower after the beach”, to get to “tapas, paellas and laughter”, “after a siesta in the hammock”, in “the mid-afternoon stroll” and finish with a “to drink in the evening and whatever comes up”. These are the moments established as essential for tasting wines at their ideal moment of consumption.
For after a swim at the beach, for those moments before a meal, Utiel-Requena suggests a selection of wines that are recommended to drink with certain starters. Thus Rebel-lia 2020 white (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc), Parreño 2020 (Viura and Verdejo), Món 2019 (Macabeo) and Sabinilla 2020 (Tardana) as whites; Aula 2020 (Bobal) in rosé; and in reds Bobal Desanjuan 2019 (Bobal), Las Mercedes 2018 (Bobal) and Faustino Rivero Ulecia 2016 (Bobal and Tempranillo).
For the “tapas, paellas and laughter” time, the white wines on offer are Vega Infante 2020 (Macabeo), Recuérdame 2020 (Sauvignon Blanc), La Tardana de Estenas 2020 (Tardana) or Chardoday 2019 (Chardonnay); the reds include Cru-Safonti 2020 (Bobal and Garnacha), Le Cencibel 2019 (Tempranillo), Anma 2017 (Syrah and Garnacha) and Torre Oria Reserva 2016 (Tempranillo).
For early afternoon, a time described as “after siesta in the hammock”, the following are recommended in whites: Pago de Tharsys Merseguera Sin Sulfitos 2020 (Merseguera), Rodeno 2020 (Macabeo and Chardonnay), Pasiego Las Suertes 2020 (Macabeo and Sauvignon Blanc) and Convivencia 2019 (Chardonnay, Merseguera and Pinot Noir); in rosé: Pasión de bobal 2020 (Bobal); and in reds: Aranleón Sólo 2019 (Bobal and Tempranillo), Parsimonia de Autor 2017 (Bobal) and Arcaz Reserva 2012 (Bobal).
For a mid-afternoon stroll, the DO Utiel-Requena suggests Alto Cueva 2020 (Macabeo), Impromptu 2020 (Sauvignon Blanc), Molineta 2020 (Macabeo) and Vallejo Avenas 2018 (Chardonnay) in whites, El Macho 2020 (Bobal) in rosé and 0 Por Ciento 2019 (Cabernet Sauvignon), Casagrande 2017 (Bobal) and Cerrogallina 2016 (Bobal) in reds.
For a typical summer dinner in good company the safe bet would be Nodus Chardonnay Ecológico 2020 (Chardonnay), Terra de Tardor 2020 (Tardana and Sauvignon Blanc) and Bobal Blanco 2020 (Bobal) in white wines; Maldita Pandemia 2020 (Bobal) in rosé and Ladrón de Lunas 2019 and Viña La Picaraza 2016-8 (Bobal) in red wines.
