Celler del Roure

Celler del Roure is a return-to-basics operation out of DO Valencia.

Pablo Calatayud and his father Paco kick-started this venture in 1996, by taking a long-abandoned 300-year-old subterranean cellar equipped with 97 buried amphorae ranging from 600-2800 litres, and bringing them back to life.

They have slowly excavated these centuries-old terracotta vats and now use them as ageing vessels, allowing the wines to build texture without the use of oak. The rest of the operation abides by the traditional winemaking techniques of the region which stretch back over 2500 years.

Truly a return to history. Until recently, local grapes were all but abandoned: Verdil blanco and Mandó Tinto, thought extinct, Merseguera and Arcos held in little esteem. Fast-forward to now, and their most noteworthy wines are based on these local varietals.