VÍ vid had the pleasure of presenting DO Utiel-Requena´s ‘Institutional Wines for 2025 at a special event for the Pedralba Wine-Tasting Group on Sunday 9 March, just days before the DO presented them in Valencia, using the Fallas celebrations in the City as a vehicle.

The ‘Institutional Wines’ are selected in tastings (Winemakers, technical staff, and selected guests) to represent the DO and promote the quality of the wines produced in the area at National and International events, and visits to their HQ in Utiel during the next twelve months. The chosen wines are awarded a special label to promote their successful selection.

This year, the panel selected five wines: a white, a Traditional Method, a rosado, and two reds and come from Bodegas Lupanda, Hispano+Suizas, Bodegas Utielanas, Rodeno and Neleman Wines.

For the Pedralba group whose 133rd formal tasting this was, and, who are well acquainted with wines from the Denomination, three of the wines were from Bodegas new to them demonstrating the continuous development in the area and the emergence of young and family winemakers keen to make their mark.

The wines and our tasting notes are as follows:

1. ‘Impromptu’ Sauvignon Blanc, 2023 Hispano+Suizas, DO Utiel-Requena  14%ABV.

This Sauvignon Blanc should not be confused with wines from New Zealand, France, or elsewhere. It is a pure Mediterranean wine with all the characteristics you might expect from something grown at altitude, with the sun and heat of the plateau, selected bunches, ‘mosto flor’,  fermentation in open 400-liter, new, French oak barrels before passing to tanks with the fine lees until it is time to bottle the wine.

Pale yellow straw in color, Clean and bright.  The nose reflects the Mediterranean influence. Delicate, notes of white fruit, white and yellow stone fruits, mineral notes, and green,  pineapple, tropical fruit. In the mouth, it has a pleasant ‘attack’, creamy ( from the contact with the lees), very fresh with ‘crunchy’ fruit, retaining the mineral notes from the nose, and very long in the finish.  This a very classy wine and is for keeping which benefits from at least five years in the bottle.

2 ‘Inspiración’ 2018 Espumoso, Método Tradicional Brut Nature, Bodegas Lupanda, DO Utiel-Requena, 12%ABV.

This Metodo Tradiciónal comes from a family run bodega in Requena.

This is a blend of Garnacha Blanca, Pinot Noir and Macabeo. Not DO Cava (de Requena,) but the same method of elaboration as Cava and Champagne. It has a minimum of 3 years ‘en rima’.

Pale yellow colour, clean and bright with fine persistent bubbles. On the nose, fresh fruit, apples, and notes from the bakery, yeast, bread dough, croissant. In the mouth very good acidity, balanced with the fruit, well-integrated bubbles and a long fresh finish in which the apple fruit and patisserie show well.

3. Castillo de Utiel, 2024 Bobal Rosado, Bodegas Utielanas, DO Utiel-Requena, 12.4%ABV.

This wine is from the cooperative in Utiel, an absolutely classic and traditional wine for the variety, at least in style! Following maceration to extract colour and fruit, the best juice is decanted and transferred to Stainless Steel tanks where temperature-controlled fermentation takes place.

Fresh rose and ripe strawberry colour with coral flashes. Clean and brilliant in aspect. On the nose ripe strawberry and fresh raspberry fruit. Bubble gum but not as pronounced as in some wines of this type! In the mouth, this wine is perfectly balanced, with fresh acidity and tasty fruit. Good volume and weight of fruit, with a long satisfying finish.

4 Neleman Bobal Robusta 2023 Organic Wine, Nelemans, DO Utiel-Requena, 14%ABV.

Derek Neleman bought the former village Cooperative in Casas del Rey, near Venta Del Moro in 2018. We first became aware of their wines about three years ago at an event in Denia.

The owner formed partnerships both within the village and with residents locally with vineyards. The Bodega is unusual in that it has nearly 5000 shareholders/owners. Fermentation takes place traditionally in open concrete tanks, following which the wine is pumped to separate tanks for the malolactic (second) fermentation and then to 1000 litre Tiñas of French oak for 14 months.

The wine is a typically coloured Bobal, deep black cherry aspect with red floral notes, blackcurrant and prune fruit, and toasty notes on the nose. In the mouth, it is smooth on entry, rich, powerful, concentrated with lots of flavour of fruits and spices, with a mineral background in a long satisfying finish.

5. Rodeno Crianza 2020, Bodegas Rodeno, DO Utiel-Requena, 14.5% ABV

Another new Bodega in Hortunas’ hamlet is also new to our group. Judging by the following wine this is another Bodega to watch out for!

A blend of 80% Tempranillo with 20% Bobal, the wine has aged for 12 months in French oak and a further year in the bottle in the bodega’s cellars before release. Deep black cherry in colour, with purple flashes. Full-bodied. Mature red fruit aromas, blue flowers (violet) spicy with vanilla notes from the crianza and liquorice notes. . Elegant on the pass, with some personality, and sweet tannins which harmonise with the fruit. Elegant and balanced long finish with some volume. A complex wine.

The tasting provoked serious interest amongst the group with more than a few questions being asked and comments made. The interest generated and welcome for the wines and the newer bodegas have provoked a wider interest in visiting the area again for tasting events.

For VÍ vid it was both a pleasure and an honour to be able to show the wines on behalf of the DO.