Valencian Cellar Tours                                                  **  Requena Wineries Full Day Tour  **
Wine Country here we come ! Heading west out of Valencia city we arrive at  Requena. Lying 65km from the mediterranean its wine territory "par exellence" whose innovative vineyard estates  produce medal-winning wines both nationally &  internationally. The thriving market for Spanish wines has led to a tremendous lift in the quality of sleepy appellations like Utiel-Requena where winemaking is the main source of income. The area nowadays boasts a vast range of stunning reds, whites, rosés & star cavas.   We visit two award winning bodegas that produce some of the finest cavas, crianzas & reservas of the D.O Utiel-Requena region. It's a full day visit with a 3 course typical lunch with wine included.
We start with a guided tour telling the history of the the bodega and get an insight into the vineyard growing practices today. Then we learn about the wine making process & the secrets of cava, Spain's only traditional method sparkling DO wine.... so whats makes the tiny bubbles & how do they get that cork in ?   Down to the cool cellars of cava & the barrel hall with aging oak casks, before rounding off with a tasting of the wines & cava in the tasting salon. Visitors also have the opportunity to buy wine directly from the winery.
After a panoramic scenic drive through wine countryside we stop at Requena town. We make a short visit to El Barrio de La Vila, declared an Historic-Artistic ensemble of national interest in 1966 due to its churches & buildings of cultural importance. La Vila, the old walled Arab quarter with its narrow streets, dates from XIII to XI. Sites of interest include the churchs of Santa Maria XIV, Salvador XV & the Arab built Torre de Homenaje X. A visit to the Cuevas de La Vila, a labyrinth of caves excavated by the Arabs may be possible depending on our appointment times. Lunch is a 3 course menu in an enchanting restaurant in the medieval town with an interesting twist of creative flair on typical hearty dishes of Requena, accompanied by local crianza wine. After a relaxed meal we visit our Second winery, again an award winning family estate retaining almost century old Bobal vines.Their traditional mediterranean coupages pertaining to a varied terroir, combined with innovative techniques, produce first class single-estate wines with personality. After a guided tour of the bodega you have the pleasure of  a tasting of the wines, returning to Valencia early evening.
Rich in history and culture Requena has a tradition in winemaking dating from the Phoenicians, perfected by the Romans & later the Moors. The gastronomy is based on strong, robust fare and famous for its artisan cured sausages.  Wineries here use the traditional methods of production with the lastest technology & a modern "toque" to create award winning wines. Many of the wines are still fairly unknown outside Spain but the Domination is gaining stature, two Cava Bruts selected as "Best Cava in Spain" at the Madrid Enoforum in 2005 & 2006 to name but a few of the success´s.
Price:          - Euro 145 per person  (Inc. 3 course lunch & wine, entrance bodegas & tastings)  Itinerary:    - Pick-up Valencia centre 9.00 am                   - Morning winery visit, vineyards & tasting                    - Lunch in Requena 3 course,wine,coffee                   - Afternoon 2nd winery visit & tasting                     - Return to Valencia city. Duration:   - Full day    Call us to arrange a visit ! ** We also offer tailer-made tours to wineries and other places of interest around Valencia **                                                                           +34 617 969 975
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