Requena Wine Caves

Requena's old quarter, La Villa, sits on soft rock, and from the medieval period its houses were extended downward: cellars were dug beneath them for storing and fermenting wine, and over centuries these connected into a network of some two hundred and fifty caves on several levels, linked by passages under the streets, used for wine, for storing grain and, at times, for shelter. A guided route visits a section of them, explaining the construction and the wine trade that built the town. Above ground, La Villa has two Gothic churches with carved portals and a Muslim-era tower. Requena is the centre of the Utiel-Requena wine region, which grows Bobal, a variety little planted elsewhere.

What to look for

• The cave network - cellars on several levels linked beneath the streets.
• The wine construction - fermentation and storage arrangements underground.
• La Villa above - Gothic churches and a Muslim tower in the old quarter.
• The Bobal country - a wine region built on a little-known grape.

When to go

March to June and September to November; the caves are cool year-round. Requena holds a wine harvest festival in late August and September. Tours are guided at set times and need booking at busy periods.

Before you go

Only a section of the network is open and access is guided only. The passages are narrow with steps and low ceilings. Requena is a working town rather than a tourist centre, with limited services.

Nearby

The Utiel-Requena wineries surround the town; Valencia is seventy kilometres east.