{"id":17558,"date":"2026-09-10T10:26:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T08:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.valenciaandgo.com\/?p=17558"},"modified":"2026-09-10T10:33:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T08:33:52","slug":"grape-harvest-in-requena-grapes-are-trodden-the-old-fashioned-way-less-than-an-hour-from-valencia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.valenciaandgo.com\/en\/vendimia-en-requena-pisa-la-uva-como-antes-a-menos-de-una-hora-de-valencia\/","title":{"rendered":"Grape harvest in Requena: tread the grapes the old-fashioned way, less than an hour from Valencia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A winemaking tradition stretching back more than 2,700 years<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The district of Utiel-Requena<\/strong>, less than an hour from Valencia, has a winemaking tradition dating back to the 7th century BC, one of the oldest in the world.<\/strong> It is no coincidence that it is held here, amongst late August and early September, the Grape Harvest Fair and Festival<\/strong> from Requena, declared as Tourist Attraction<\/strong> and one of Spain\u2019s longest-running festivals: a parade of floats, the crowning of the festival queen, the blessing of the first must and, of course, the grape treading<\/strong> in the village square.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What does \"stomping the grapes\" mean? (and why is it still done?)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Until the century XIX<\/strong>, treading the grapes with bare feet was the usual method for break the skin and release the must<\/strong> without crushing the seeds, which would make the wine bitter. Today, most wineries use machinery, but some family-run wineries in the area keep the tradition alive as a wine tourism experience: a way of literally experiencing, wine between my toes<\/strong> before it becomes the drink you have in Valencia.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Our half-day excursion: winery tour, wine tasting and grape treading<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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At Valencia&Go<\/strong> We\u2019ll take you on a tour of the region known as \u00abValencian Tuscany\u00bb<\/a> for its rolling hills and golden vineyards, on a half-day excursion designed so you don\u2019t miss a single morning of your trip: departure from Valencia at 9 am and return at around 3 pm. The first stop is the Murviedro Historic Winery<\/strong>, right in the heart of Requena\u2019s old town, with a tasting of three wines<\/strong> and a visit to the mysterious caves of Requena.<\/span><\/p>

We then moved on to Vera d'Estenas<\/strong> to continue the family history and tradition with a second wine tasting featuring food pairings with local cheeses and cured meats.<\/strong> During the season, the experience is rounded off with hands-on contact with the grapes: you can to taste it<\/strong> directly from the vine itself at August and September<\/strong>, and add to that grape treading<\/strong> at September and October,<\/strong> by literally stepping into the wine press to repeat a tradition that generations of winemaking families in this region have been carrying on.<\/span><\/p>