Delicious Spanish Organic Wines of the Bobal Grape

(April 3, 2017) Bobal is one of Spain’s most unique and popular grapes, used to produce delicious Spanish organic wines. Native to the Utiel-Requena region, it derives its name from the Spanish word for a bull’s head-bovale. Our Tarantas brand, with its clever rendition of the Bull’s head on the label, features two delightful wines made from 100% organically grown Bobal grapes: Tarantas Sparkling Rosé and Tarantas Bobal Rosé.

Recently, the delicious Bobal wines from the Utiel-Requena region were featured in TheWineBlog by Philip S. Kampe:

“The Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin hosts a winemaking culture that prides itself on tradition. With over 10,000 acres of vineyards and history that confirms the archeological digs that the production of wine dates back to the Iberian age, well over twenty-five hundred years ago.

The findings point to several grape varieties. Of the many varieties found, clearly the Bobal grape has been the signature grape of the Utiel-Requena.”

The hot, dry climate of Utiel-Requena, home to our winery partner Bodegas Iranzo, produces outstanding Spanish organic wines from the Bobal grape that are delightfully fruit-forward.

Philip S. Kampe continues:
“The large region boasts a range of micro-climates that express the unique terroir found in the Utiel-Requena The grape that best illustrates terroir has been and will always be the Bobal…The Bobal varietal leans towards full-bodied, over-the-top intensely fruity wines…the acidity that is pronounced in your mid-palate screams for more Bobal. Add a spicy, robust long finish to your palate and you have, in my estimation, Spain’s third most important varietal, Bobal, only preceded by Tempranillo and Garnacha. Read his entire story here.

The Tarantas Sparkling Rosé features fruity aromas and flavors of baked cherries and strawberry and honeyed apples and melon with a supple, tangy, fruity light-to-medium body and a medium-long citrus, rhubarb, and wheatgrass finish with fine tannins. Tarantas Bobal Rosé has elegant aromas of strawberry and floral notes, well structured on the palette, fresh and fruity. Both are delightful wines on their own, and pair extremely well with Salads, seafood and rice dishes, pasta and white meats.

In addition to the delightful flavor of the wines, rose wines have natural health benefits. Some of the highest tested levels of the heart-healthy natural antioxidant Resveratrol can be found in monovarietal wines from southeast Spain’s Bobal grape.

This week, Natural Merchants Managing Partner Ed Field is on a US tour for the Utiel-Requena region, promoting Spanish organic wines made from the Bobal grape and other varietals from Bodegas Iranzo and Tarantas. He’ll be making several stops for trade tasting events including Houston, Boston and DC. Check out this article from Beverage Media that features several of the wines.

Enjoy these beautiful wines this spring! Available at Whole Foods Market, 365 by Whole Foods and other fine retailers nationwide.

Author: Lisa Bell