The Hidden Gem of Spanish Wine

When Spanish wine is discussed, Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Monastrell often take the spotlight. Yet quietly rooted in the Utiel-Requena DOP in Valencia, the native Bobal grape is undergoing a renaissance. Once underestimated, Bobal is now captivating sommeliers, critics, and wine lovers with its authenticity, freshness, and potential for greatness. 

Bobal has gradually become a favorite among Spanish sommeliers and wine professionals, recently earning recognition from several Masters of Wine, such as David Forer and Pedro Ballesteros, as one of the Spanish varieties to watch out for.

Old Bobal vines in late autumn close to the village Casas de Eufemia 

From Nearly Forgotten to Newly Found Fame

In the past, Bobal didn’t enjoy a strong reputation. It was valued mainly for its deep pigmentation and high alcohol potential - qualities useful when blending with other Spanish or French grapes. The variety tends to suffer from uneven ripening, producing bunches of different sizes on the same vine, and sometimes even within the same cluster. Historically, this led to rustic wines with a bitter edge.

However, Bobal’s resilience meant that it thrived in hot, dry conditions, producing very high yields - one reason why so many old vines have survived to this day. Despite this, plantings have nearly halved since the 1990s, when the Spanish Department of Agriculture encouraged growers to replace Bobal with more “fashionable” grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Tempranillo. And in recent years, the trend to produce more Cava has led to an even further replacement of great old Bobal vineyards, which is hard to understand when it means destroying such a unique legacy.

Terroir wine "Viña Rubén" from Verónica Romero

A Grape Rooted in Place

Bobal is the second most planted grape variety in Spain, with 62,000 hectares—behind only Tempranillo’s 203,000 ha. Native to Utiel-Requena in Valencia, Bobal is vigorous, productive, and drought-resistant. It produces dark-coloured, full-bodied wines with bright acidity, firm tannins, and signature notes of fresh wild herbs, red fruit, and blue fruit.

Its finest expressions are found in the red ferrous clays around the villages of Utiel and Requena - about an hour’s drive from Valencia - and in Manchuela, just across the Castilla-La Mancha border. These areas, with their high-altitude vineyards, limestone-rich soils, and dramatic day-night temperature swings, yield wines that balance intensity with freshness.

Our Winemakers from the Requena-Utiel Region

At uncorkme-now!, we champion winemakers who capture the best of Bobal’s character and who work very sustainable, manually and preserving the Bobal grape as it is. 

• Vera de Estenas – Featured recently by Decanter as a benchmark for varietal elegance, this historic estate produces Bobal wines that combine ripe berry aromas, refined tannins, and a graceful, lingering finish. Their commitment to terroir has made them one of Utiel-Requena’s standard-bearers.

• Pago de Tharsys – Renowned for sustainable viticulture, Pago de Tharsys crafts vibrant, precise Bobal wines with lively acidity and a strong sense of place. Each bottle reflects their dedication to environmental stewardship and authentic winemaking.

• Bodega y Viñedos Carres – A micro-bodega from Casas de Eufemia, Carres produces small-batch, artisanal Bobal from old vines. Their wines are pure expressions of the grape, handcrafted to preserve every detail of flavour and origin.

• Verónica Romero Viticultora – Independent micro-bodega owner and winemaker from Los Duques (Utiel), crafting authentic, small-batch Bobal, soon available at uncorkme-now!

Verónica in her micro-bodega explaining all the terroirs

The Modern Face of Bobal

Thanks to careful vineyard selection, lower yields, and modern cellar practices—such as gentle extraction and thoughtful oak use - Bobal is shedding its rustic past. Today’s best examples show deep ruby colour, aromas of dark cherry, blueberry, and Mediterranean herbs, supported by bright acidity and a subtle mineral backbone. As Decanter notes, this harmony of richness and freshness is exactly why Bobal is attracting so much attention.

Perfect Pairings

Bobal’s lively acidity and firm structure make it a versatile partner at the table. It pairs beautifully with grilled meat, hearty paella, and aged cheese. Its herbal and fruity character also complements Mediterranean vegetable dishes and rich vegetarian cuisine.

Why Now Is the Time for Bobal

From its humble roots to its new-found fame, Bobal embodies authenticity, resilience, and distinct regional identity. With dedicated producers like Verónica Romero, Vera de Estenas, Pago de Tharsys, and Bodega y Viñedos Carres amongst other innovative produces leading the way, the grape’s future is brighter than ever. Each glass offers a taste of Spain’s history, terroir, and the exciting potential of one of its most characterful native varieties.

Discover Bobal. Taste Spain’s future today.

Explore our Bobal selection here

Aged Vera de Estenas Bobal Reserva bottles