The Winery Castillo de Las Almenas of Valence

Discovering the wine region of Valence

Valencia is a province in the centre of Spain's sunny east coast, perhaps better known for its oranges (and paella) than its wine. The administrative Center of Valencia is the city of the same name, the third largest in Spain and the largest port on the Mediterranean. Archaeological evidence suggests that wine making in Valencia dates back more than a thousand years, but the region has never been particularly prominent on the world wine map. In modern times, Valencia's wine production has focused on quantity rather than quality, although this is gradually changing.

In addition to the DO Valencia title, this province is also home to the Denominación de Origen Utiel-Requena. The laws relating to DO Valencia are overseen by the local Consejo Regulador (wine authority), established in 1957. The Valencia DO wine title covers 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres), unevenly divided between two distinct geographical areas. The smaller area, Clarino, is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of the city of Valencia, bordering the northern boundary of the Alicante DO area.