While nearly forgotten, Utiel Requena was crowned one of Spain’s first DOs in the 1930’s. Approximately 45 miles off the SE coast of Mediterranean, within the Comunitat Valenciana - the arid, harsh climate from the northwest welcomes the strong Mediterranean influence of warming wind. The high altitude sites in Requena (1000m) are dotted with poor, organic soils of river rock, clay and limestone, make it the perfect setting for pesticide free farming practices.

Utiel Requena is also the home of one of Spain’s most widely planted, and often overlooked, red varietals, Bobal. Given the high elevation and acid retaining soils, UR is also one of the seven regions permitted to produce sparkling wines brandished with DO Cava.

Bodegas Coviñas, founded in 1965, is a union of the area’s most prominent landholders. Founded in efforts to create a distillery to utilize the abundance of must from their individual wineries. During the dismal times under the dictator, General Francisco Franco, the lion’s share of vineyard production came from unionized cooperatives that employed thousands of landowners. Each grape grower is considered an “Employee” and receives the benefits that go along stability. Bodegas Coviñas has always strived to take care of people of UR, paying top dollar for the highest quality fruit - becoming the foundation on which the region survives and a desired destiny of quality fruit from the locals.

Diego has been the winemaker at Grupo Coviñas for 15 years. Prior to that, he spent 5 years of work study at Bodegas Faustino in DOCa Rioja.