Did you know that the area around Benidorm on the Costa Blanca is actually famous for its wineries? Along with the sangria and good times by the sea, Benidorm holidays can bring you a taste of the Jalon Valley vineyards and the chance to pair excellent local foods with a glass or two of red, white or rosado.
So if you’re staying at the Spanish resort this year and fancy learning a little about the local wines, let us take you on a virtual tasting tour of the kind of varieties you can look forward to…
Spanish bodegas
Bodegas or traditional wine producers are found all over the country in Spain, and are responsible for favourite Spanish wine exports like the smoky reds from Rioja to the zesty whites from Riberio.
Along with more famous wine regions like La Rioja Alavesa in the north of Spain and the Marco de Jerez sherry region in Andalusia, the rocky, mountainous area inland from the Costa Blanca deserves recognition for its fine variety of wines and well-established bodegas.
Wine routes around Benidorm
There are around 50 vineyards in the Alicante province, making Benidorm on the coast an ideal starting point for a wine holiday. The wine-producing area is specifically known as the Jalon (or Xalon) Valley and is famed for its beautiful blossoms and orange groves.
A 20-minute trip from Benidorm will take you to Enrique Mendoza vineyard, one of the best-known wineries in this region. Without a huge output (only 315,000 bottles a year), this bodega is a family affair, growing their own Merlot, Shiraz and Chardonnay grapes and producing a variety of sweet dessert wines.
Nearer to Alicante but still a doable drive from Benidorm, the Bocopa Bodega is one of the largest in these parts and lies in the shadow of the Serra del Maigmó mountain. Specialising in Muscat and Monastrell strains as well as producing rosé and sparkling varieties like Alcanta Rosé and Marina Espumante, Bocopa also has its own shop and sells wine through local restaurant Les Pedreres.
La Bodega del Garroferal or Peter Arnlold Winery is found to the north of Benidorm in the village of Murla and run by Peter and wife Helen, who have prior experience of wine-growing in South Africa. Highlights include the blended Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Rhapsody’ and the homemade tapas to go with your tasting sessions.
Plan your wine-tasting trip
Tour companies and hotels in Benidorm and Alicante will organise a winery visit for you, often including tasting sessions, sometimes carefully paired with sweet and savoury snacks from chorizo to chocolate, or even an entire lunch or evening meal. Alternatively, hire a car and tour a few bodegas on a day trip (with a designated driver, of course!): with most situated within an hour’s radius of Benidorm, you should be able to find plenty to sample.
Interested in discovering more about Benidorm and its surrounds? Take a look at our range of hotels and resorts in the area to start planning your holiday to Costa Blanca…
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