Ricardo's Blog

[caption id="attachment_1153" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Chardonnay at Vera de Estenas."][/caption] It seems as though the optimism reported a couple of weeks back about the prospects for a bumper harvest this year in Utiel-Requena are proving correct so far. Discussions with friends from several bodegas produced reports of good, healthy and large crops some of which were already

[caption id="attachment_1109" align="alignleft" width="112" caption="José Luis Robredo, President CRDOP Utiel-Requena."][/caption]   Actually, just five more days as Ferevin will open its doors to the public on Thursday evening for this years showcase fair, held in the central Avenida Arrabal until lunchtime on Sunday next! Entry is by ticket as usual which will provide a number of tastings

[caption id="attachment_1091" align="alignleft" width="140" caption="Bodegas Proexa."][/caption]   I first came across the wines from Bodegas Proexa last year during the Certamen del Vinos de Venta del Moro ( See archive August 2010). A further tasting of their wines last week at the 2011 event just confirmed how good they are and so the stage was set for a visit to the bodega itself, a

[caption id="attachment_1005" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Members...and friends of Asociación Primum Bobal in Requena."][/caption] There is nothing like an intensive weekend away working and a bloggers conference is as hard work as it gets.....

[caption id="attachment_961" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="At the wine-bloggers tasting last April."][/caption]   Last April a number of bloggers from across Spain met in the HQ of DO Utiel-Requena, the Bodega Redonda which also houses the museum,  to participate in a tasting of wines from the area. Following on from the success of this event the controlling body has invited

[caption id="attachment_849" align="alignleft" width="55" caption="The International Wine Challenge lable added to Winning Wine Bottles."] [/caption]    April has been recovery month after the wine fair! A little light entertainment here and there, the odd tasting at Hipercor and breakfast at Las Añadas has been sufficient ( oh and there was a tasting for the Pedralba Wine circle and one of the

A year ago I reported that Utiel-Requena was seeking UNESCO Heritage Status for the DO which has a continuous history of viticulture and winemaking going back to 2500 years . (See April 2010 Archive). [caption id="attachment_844" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="New Red Released at Pago de Tharsys."][/caption] This week the Requena Wine Institute has been hosting a conference for the

  Las Añadas de Utiel-Requena, the presentation of new wines and, in some cases,  new vintages of the best wines from thirty-one bodegas from the DO East of Valencia took place on Monday night of this week. Attended by professionals from the wine and restaurant trades, opened by the Agriculture Minister, and essentially a serious presentation of some of the best from the DO, this event had all

Utiel Gastronomica, Utiel´s riposte to Requena´s wine and sausage fairs is a showcase for the gastronomy of the region but one which generously allows guests from different parts of Spain and even France to showcase their wares. Moreover it is not just a fair on a single site as several bars in the town offer a tapa typical of the region during the event, thus drawing visitors into the town