Parajes del Valle Monastrell 2025, Jumilla DO, Organic

Parajes del Valle Monastrell is a certified organic red from the Jumilla DO in south-east Spain, made entirely from Monastrell, the region’s signature grape. The fruit comes from unirrigated bush vines, roughly 15 to 40 years old, in the north of Jumilla, in plots such as Fuente de las Perdices and La Cañada de Albatana that are farmed under the traditional ‘terraje’ sharecropping system. The vineyards sit at around 600 metres on limestone and sand, and the grapes are harvested by hand. The wine is fermented in stainless steel, then moved to concrete to finish its fermentation and malolactic, with no oak ageing, and it is suitable for vegans.

In the glass it is a bright, intense cherry red. The nose is lively and concentrated, with redcurrant, cherry, raspberry and blueberry, a floral hint of violet and a touch of wild herbs. The palate is juicy and fresh, with clean acidity, youthful, grippy tannins and a spicy finish with a hint of fresh tobacco.

Serve slightly cool, at around 14–16°C. It is made for the table: try it with paella, tapas, charcuterie, grilled meats and traditional stews, as well as vegetarian dishes. Drink it young, while its fruit is at its most vibrant.

Parajes del Valle is a winery on the outskirts of Jumilla, in Murcia, south-east Spain, and belongs to the García Pérez family group, which also owns wineries in Manchuela and Valencia. Led by winemaker María Jover, the project focuses on certified organic wines from dry-farmed vineyards in the Jumilla and Manchuela DOs, with grapes picked slightly early to keep their freshness in this warm, sunny region. Its Monastrell comes from bush vines in northern Jumilla, in plots such as Fuente de las Perdices and La Cañada de Albatana, and the winery is committed to preserving the traditional ‘terraje’ system, a historic sharecropping arrangement that has helped keep some of the area’s oldest vineyards in production. Fermentations take place in steel and concrete, and sulphur is kept to a minimum.