Expat Travel Mom

Less than an hour from Valencia sits Requena-Utiel, sometimes called the Valencian Tuscany, and it's become one of our favorite ways to spend a day, or an anniversary, without ever needing to leave the region. We often bring people out here when they visit, if they have the time, because it's such a nice getaway...and the wine really is special.

Wine Older Than You'd Expect

People have been making wine in this exact spot since around 700 BC, archaeologists found proof of it at an ancient Iberian settlement nearby. The grape that defines the whole region today is Bobal, a native red variety that now makes up somewhere between 70 and 80 percent of everything grown here. There's a real reason for that dominance too: when phylloxera, the vine disease that devastated vineyards across nearly all of Europe in the late 1800s, finally reached this region in 1912, Bobal's naturally thick skin gave it real resistance that other grapes simply didn't have. While other wine regions across the continent were forced to tear out and replant everything using grafted American rootstock, Bobal helped this one weather the crisis better than most. That kind of resilience still shows in the wine itself, deep in color, full of tannins, and genuinely distinct from anything else we've tasted in Spain.

Murviedro

One of our stops was Murviedro, and the setting alone makes it worth the visit, its cellars are actually built into 12th-century underground caves right in the historic old town of Requena. Walking down into that cool, dark stone space, knowing wine has been aged there for centuries, adds something a straightforward tasting room just can't match. We love their wine tasting room for just visiting moments, sample some wines, ask for a charcuterie, and it's a lovely time. Make sure to grab their clay bottle wine, so unique and a perfect gift! Then, pop next door to El Yantar for lunch (see below).

Vera de Estenas, and Grape Stomping for Our Anniversary

Vera de Estenas is a genuinely beautiful modernist winery dating back to 1876, and this is where we spent one of our best anniversaries yet, grape picking and stomping with friends included. There's something genuinely joyful about doing something so old-fashioned and a little ridiculous together, feet in a vat of grapes, laughing the whole time, followed by a proper gourmet lunch and plenty of wine. We were so thankful to have friends along with us for that one.

Sierra Norte

We've also spent an afternoon at Sierra Norte, another solid stop in the region, good wine, a relaxed pace, exactly the kind of afternoon this whole area is built for. It reminded me of being back in the Napa-Sonoma region. The tour was in Spanish, but that was ok, as I translated for our friends along the way. It was so pristine, so pretty, and so orderly (my favorite, lol!).

El Yantar La Cocina de Pilar

For lunch or dinner in the region, El Yantar has become our go-to, a genuinely excellent fusion restaurant that's earned real recognition for its food, easily some of the best eating we've done near Valencia. Pair it with a wine region day, and you've got a genuinely perfect combination. Make sure you go to the one next to Murviedro with the Michelin sign out front (they have two). And if you really want an experience, ask to sit downstairs in their caves.

Requena's Old Town

Beyond the wineries themselves, Requena's old town is worth a wander on its own, narrow streets, real history, and a quieter pace than the city. You'll even find a mural begging you to share a kiss and post on Instagram. A sweet, easy way to stretch the day out a little longer before heading back.

If you're ever in Valencia and want a genuine escape without a long drive, this is it, centuries of wine history, grape stomping, incredible food, and some of the prettiest countryside this region has to offer.