Valencia’s wine bars offer everything from regional specialties and Spanish classics to international favorites from France, Italy, or further afield. So, whatever your taste in wine, Valencia has a vino to suit. ¡Salud!

Spanish wine may be best known for its Tempranillo-led reds like Rioja and Ribeira del Duero, or its refreshingly bubbly cava. But it doesn’t stop there. You’ll find a whole wealth of lighter reds, fruity whites, juicy rosés and punchy sherries to explore. And, when you’re in Valencia, there are plenty of places to taste them.

Every neighborhood has its smattering of dedicated wine bars, but there are also boutique wine stores that offer tastings and events, tapas bars that specialize in wines, and restaurants that are famous for their extensive wine lists.

Better still: the region around Valencia is less well-known internationally for its wines in comparison with many other Spanish wine regions. This means that you can pick up some excellent local vinos at very affordable prices.

ViveVino Natural Winebar

The natural wine trend that has been sweeping Europe has found its way to Valencia as well. And, where else than in the ultra-hip Russafa neighborhood?

ViveVino (Carrer del Músic Padilla, 2) is a vibrant little bar that invites you in with its bright blue exterior and friendly manner. The wine list goes into helpful detail about whether the wine is made using whole-bunch maceration, oak ageing, or maturation in traditional amphora.

There are two dozen wines available by the glass (more by the bottle), including a wide selection of orange wines. We loved “El Romano”: a Valencian blend of Macabeo and Tardana grapes, aged for six months in oak – with smooth vanilla undertones that didn’t overpower the fruit.

The Wine Gallery

For well-priced wines by the glass in the same neighborhood, continue your wine crawl at The Wine Gallery. It’s a homey bar that showcases local artwork, with tables spilling onto the pavement outside.

You can read the wine list on a blackboard by region and – while they’re all Spanish – the widest selection comes from the Valencia area. Most glasses are under the average price for Valencia wine bars, and most bottles have a great value too, making this a great spot for the more budget-conscious wine lovers.

Casa Montaña

Of course, no trip to Spain would be complete without tapas. And luckily for travelling oenophiles, Valencia is brimming with bars that specialize in both wine and tapas.

One of which is Casa Montaña: founded way back in 1836. This historic Spanish winery is tucked away in the Cabañal neighborhood close to the beach. It’s a family-run business with a vast selection of wines plus traditional local dishes.

Think silky Iberico ham, artisan canned fish, steaming piles of mussels, and stuffed piquillo peppers. Unsurprisingly, Casa Montaña is immensely popular and generally has lines out the door – so be sure to reserve in advance.

El Rodamón de Russafa

For a more modern take on tapas and wine, look no further than El Rodamón de Russafa with its vast wall of wine bottles at the far end of the restaurant.

The food here is more fusion in nature. You’ll spot some Asian flavors in the form of sweet & sour eggplant, or duck spring rolls next to Spanish pulpo and calamari. And the extensive wine list is in the same vein: Spanish bottles sit alongside other European wines at a variety of price points.

We particularly enjoyed the Priorat: a Garnacha-led red blend from Catalunya that was full-bodied and boozy but perfectly balanced.

Tinto Fino Ultramarino

Meanwhile, in Valencia’s Ciutat Vella (old town), the aptly named Tinto Fino Ultramarino (C/ de la Corretgeria, 38) is serving up (or rather, pouring out) a unique combination of Spanish and Italian wines from its cozy, bare-brick-and-wallpaper location – with bites to match.

Artichoke and mozzarella wrapped in speck can go well with a glass of Valencian Riesling (not a grape you’d usually associate with a climate this hot). While a moreish zucchini and goat’s cheese stuffed pastry is perfectly paired with a local white blend of Chardonnay and Macabeo aged in clay amphora.

Terra à Vins

Valencia is an international city, which of course means that not every wine bar is into Spanish wines. In fact, one of the most talked-about wine bars in town specializes in wines from Burgundy: Terra à Vins.

This darkly lit, diminutive space (it only seats 10 people at a time) is a hidden gem in the Gran Vía neighborhood, where personal recommendations from the bar’s knowledgeable owner come as standard.

You’ll find Spanish sherry, but no cava (only Champagne). And you’ll find a limited selection of Spanish still wines in favor of Burgundian Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with a plate of raw-milk cheeses to accompany your wine – surely the original match made in heaven.

Angolo DiVino

In the same barrio, Angolo DiVino (C/ de l’Almirall Cadarso, 14) is a casual, convivial wine bar specializing in bottles from Italy.

Again, while you’ll find a couple of Spanish Tempranillos, take the advice of the bar staff and try a rich and rewarding glass of Barbera d’Asti (a full-bodied red from Piedmonte) or Ripasso (a fruit-smoothie version of Valpolicella).

The Wine Place

Tasting wine in Valencia need not be limited to bars. There are many independent wine stores across the city that offer tastings and events alongside bottles to take home. If your Spanish is rusty (or non-existent), the best place to start is The Wine Place – run by native English-speaking Mark O’Neill.

In addition to selling a well-curated range of Spanish and international bottles, he runs weekly themed tastings for small groups interested in learning more. Some events concentrate solely on Valencian wines, while others have a broader international focus, but all are designed to enhance learning and pleasure for wine enthusiasts of all levels.

Vegamar / La Cavina

The Vegamar winery is actually located in Calles – in the mountains around 65 km northwest of Valencia – where the winemakers grow and harvest a variety of black and white grapes with which they make some outstanding wines.

And, while tours of the winery are on offer, Vegamar’s wines are also available at a couple of city center locations – meaning you don’t need to leave Valencia to try them.

To pick up bottles to take home, stop by the Vegamar store in Gran Vía. The staff will help you pick the perfect bottle. To try before you buy, head to La Cavina – Vegamar’s sister restaurant – where wines are available by the glass and bottle, with paired tastings to enhance your Vegamar experience. Not to be missed!