Winemaker Notes
This gulpable red has a brilliant color with an intriguing nose of red fruits, rose hips, spice and black pepper. The fleshy fruit flavors of raspberry and current are lifted by brisk mineral acidity and ever so slight tannin structure.
Bright and lithe, this is an ideal pairing with seafood, rice dishes (paella), and simple snacks. Tasty served with a slight chill.
Bobal is enjoying a mini renaissance in Spain today as high-elevation vineyards in its homeland of Utiel-Requena produce dense and velvety wines dominated by dark berry and cocoa characteristics. However, its function as Spain’s second most planted red grape variety was once only for bulk wine and concentrate. Since it is drought-resistant, it does well grown as unirrigated bush vines and acts as a fine voice of terroir. Somm Secret—Bobal also shows great potential for rosé and sparkling wines because of its high levels of acidity and anthocyanins.
The Valencia DO wine region is a non-contiguous appellation, with four distinct subzones, surrounding the area beyond Valencia’s capital city. Winemaking in the northern part of this region is dominated by old growing areas surrounding the city. The region was established in 1957.
Historically, bulk wine has been the focal point of the region and cooperatives still handle 85% of total production today. However, winemakers are trying to steadily move away from this and focus more on producing quality wine thanks to a growing group of local innovative winemakers. More importance is being placed on older vines of indigenous (or historic) varieties planted at higher altitudes, which range from 820 - 3,600 feet.
There is growing excitement about the wines being produced from black grapes such as Monastrell, as well as late-ripening white grapes such as Merseguera. The most planted grape, Moscatel de Alejandría, has its own subzone centered around the production of sweet, fortified liqueur wines, called locally Mistela de Moscatel. The region's reds, rosés and whites actually all include dessert wines, each with their own wine-making traditions.