Introduction.

Sunday 22 saw the 145th tasting of the Circulo de Vino de Pedralba, in which we presented the’ Institutional Wines’ on behalf of Vinos DO Utiel-Requena. The selection this year is all the more important because Requena has been chosen as the European City of Wine 2026. The DO presented the wines to the press back on 30 January. The same day, they presented their ‘Agenda,’ the list of all events planned in the region this calendar year.

The Institutional Wines.

 These are the wines selected in a blind tasting competition each year to represent the DO in all official events.  A jury comprised of wine experts from a range of sources, winemakers, specialist press, guests from other DOs, etc., tastes all the wines submitted blind. The three in each category scoring the highest points are then tasted again to choose the winners. The winning wines are then awarded a special label identifying their success.

The Agenda.

For some 15 years, the DO has produced an ‘agenda’ which publicises the events taking place in the Utiel-Requena region, including events in Bodegas, town fairs, gastronomy events and concerts, for example. Previously a small pocket-sized guide, this year it is a 160-page, professionally produced book for which there is a huge demand.

Tastings and the European City of Wine.

Since the initial presentation, the DO have presented the wines again in Valencia, this time to students of Gastronomic Sciences at Valencia University. Valencia will be used more often this year as it is the capital of the Valencian Community, which includes other DOs in Alicante, Valencia and the IGP in Castellon, as well as the DO Cava de Requena. Similarly, the award is seen as a boost to all of these organisations and their respective Eno tourism bodies, and this year will see a huge effort put into promoting tourism and gastronomy more generally across the Community.

The VÍ Vid tasting for the Circulo de Vino de Pedralba.

In full collaboration with the DO, we were delighted to be able to present, once again, the Institutional Wines to our long-standing tasting group.

We started with a presentation of the background to the event, followed by an explanation of what will happen during the year and a presentation of the DOs Agenda.

This was extremely well-received, and members have already started planning some of the events that they wish to attend during the next 11 months.

We then tasted each of the wines as follows.-

The Espumoso.

1. Bobal Brut, Blanc de Noirs 2022, Bodegas  Vicente Gandia, Vinos DO Utiel-Requena, 12 % ABV.

This wine originally emerged some 12 months ago, being introduced at the Verema 25^th Anniversary Experience. We also tasted it at the ASEV Sparkling Wines event, celebrating the Award Winners from the Brussels World Wines Competition.  At the time, it had around 10 months  ‘en-rima’,  but this has been extended to 20 months. There is a limited production of 10,275 bottles.

Yellow straw in colour with golden flashes. Fine persistent bubbles. On the nose, the period in the bottle in contact with the lees gives it fresh, floral and fruity notes. Rose and cherry, biscuit, toasted bread, fresh nuts, smooth spices and apple notes amongst them. In the mouth, the fine bubbles are well-integrated, giving a fresh, crisp, fat and creamy feel. A very well-balanced sparkler with freshness and a great structure!

The White Wine.

1. Nodus Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Bodegas Nodus, Vinos DO Utiel-Requena, 12.5 % ABV

The result of a night harvest, followed by a short maceration of the whole berry before pressing. Ecological wine.

Pale yellow straw colour with golden flashes, clean and very bright in aspect. Intense, aromatic and very elegant nose. Tropical fruit and fresh varietal notes are typical of the variety. Well-structured and balanced on entry, lively, fresh acidity. Fresh, harmonious and relatively light.

The Rosado Wine.

1. Alto Cuevas Bobal Rosado 2025, Bodegas Covilor, Vinos DO Utiel-Requena 12.5 % ABV.

Covilor is the Cooperative in the village of Cuevas de Utiel. We have tasted their wines very occasionally in the past. We have had the Rosado previously in years when it has won the Proava award.

Rose and strawberry colour, intense and visually attractive with a violet edge. On the nose, it is elegant, quite intense and very aromatic. Fresh strawberry and mature raspberry notes, exotic fruits in the background. None of the nail varnish or chewing gum notes, but otherwise a classic Bobal rosado! In the mouth, the fruit and acidity are well-balanced, it is creamy and has a long finish.

The Red Wines.

1. Sueños del Mediterráneo, 2024, Garnacha Tintorera, Bodegas Utielanas, Vinos DO Utiel-Requena, 13 % ABV.

This is from the Cooperative in Utiel, not a bodega we have regularly used in tastings, with the odd exception of years when its Rosado has won the Proava competition. Unusual in that this wine is pure Garnacha Tintorera, with a short pass in French oak of three months.

Intense violet red colour, medium to full-bodied with long legs. The nose has fresh red fruit and mature black fruit, well-integrated spices, youthful. In the mouth, the fruit and the oaky notes integrate well, with the mature fruits giving complexity, an elegant and silky pass across the palate.

• Bobos, Finca Casa La Borracha, Bobal 2023, Hispano+Suizas, Vinos DO Utiel-Requena 14 % ABV.

This bodega is well-known to the group Made from vines which are more than 80 years old, the wine was first introduced with the 2011 vintage. It ages very well!

Intense cherry colour with violet edge, typical of the variety. Complex nose, combining oaky notes mixed with mature fruit, forest floor, and a toasty and balsamic note. In the mouth, this is full, fat and with a ‘majestic’ entry, the tannins are smooth and elegant, the fruit has some weight, and a long finish with light, toasty notes and a good acidity.

CONCLUSION

The general feeling of the group matched ours, that this had been a very special occasion and the best selection of Institutional Wines we had tasted. Our thanks go once again to DO Utiel Requena, @vinosdoutielrequena, for allowing us to collaborate and present the wines on their behalf, and to the bodegas whose wines were selected!