presented by Brittanie Wallace from Queen of Wines
Rebel.lia Blanco 2025
Andrés Valiente and his son Rodolfo formed Viñedos & Bodegas Vegalfaro in 1999, situated in the unique Utiel-Requena region of Valencia, Spain. The estate’s philosophy focuses entirely on sustainable farming, natural ecosystem management, and certified organic production. Their “Rebel.lia” line is designed to break traditional boundaries, bringing a youthful, eco-conscious perspective to a historical wine landscape. By maintaining native soils and cultivating balanced vineyards, the family captures an expressive, coastal Mediterranean identity driven by clean grape purity.
The 2025 vintage of this white blend delivers a remarkably fresh, aromatic, and expressive profile that highlights the harmony between international and local varieties. The grapes are harvested early to capture natural, zippy acidity before undergoing cold settling and a clean fermentation in stainless steel vats.
Appellation: Utiel-Requena DOP, Valencia, Spain
Grapes: 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 50% Macabeo – ABV: 12%
Tasting notes: Fresh, vibrant, and citrus-driven. It bursts with expressive aromas of green apple and lime zest, transforming seamlessly into a crisp, highly drinkable palate defined by mouthwatering acidity and a clean, refreshing fruit finish.
Pairing: Best served well-chilled at 8–10°C. It serves as an ultimate companion to fresh coastal seafood, raw shellfish, traditional Valencian paella, light starters, or summer rice dishes.
Producer: Viñedos & Bodegas Vegalfaro
Rebel.lia Oscuro Red 2025
The certified organic and vegan red blends of Bodegas Vegalfaro showcase the unique character of the inland Valencian plateau. Rodolfo Valiente implements careful plot selection, picking each specific variety by hand when it hits maximum phenolic ripeness. The estate focuses on the synergy between structural native grapes and softer partners to prove that organic farming can yield intense, highly polished consumer-style reds. The vineyards endure hot Spanish afternoons balanced by cooling sea influences, giving the roots the perfect baseline for balanced fruit accumulation.
Appellation: Utiel-Requena DOP, Valencia, Spain
Grapes: Tempranillo, Garnacha Tintorera, Bobal – ABV: 14%
Tasting notes: Deep, plummy, and savory. It highlights intense aromas of dark plum, wild herbs, and subtle toast, giving way to a fresh, fruit-driven palate packed with blackberry notes and balanced, smooth tannins.
Pairing: Best served at a cellar temperature of 15–17°C. This rustic red blend acts as a perfect match for roasted lamb chops, authentic Spanish sausages, chorizo, or pungent, hard cheeses.
Producer: Viñedos & Bodegas Vegalfaro
Altivo Tradicion Familiar Rosado
The Altivo estate specializes in crafting high-altitude expressions that honor the deep-seated agricultural legacies of Spain. The estate’s “Tradición Familiar” rosado is sourced entirely from a curated selection of mature family vineyards averaging 20 years of age. These plots are strategically positioned on elevated slopes to capture maximum daily sunshine while preserving natural coolness. This thermal shift slows down grape ripening, forcing the vines to hold onto the vibrant, varietal typicity and fruit freshness that defines premium European rosés.
Appellation: DOCa Rioja / Spain
Grapes: 60% Tempranillo, 30% Viura, 10% Garnacha – ABV: 12.5%
Tasting notes: Crisp, dry, and elegant. It delivers pleasant aromas of fresh wild strawberry and red currant, leading into a balanced, light-bodied palate featuring a cleansing, vibrant fruit finish.
Pairing: Serve well-chilled at 8–10°C. Highly flexible at the dinner table, it matches beautifully as an aperitif, with fresh garden salads, cold tapas, grilled vegetables, or light fish entries.
Producer: Altivo Bodegas y Viñedos
Vivanco Crianza
The historic Vivanco family has been a pillar of the Rioja Alta winemaking community for generations, driven by a deep passion for the region’s cultural heritage. Today, winemaker Rafael Vivanco leads the family-run estate, relying exclusively on a selection of sustainably farmed native grapes grown across their personal vineyards in Briones, San Vicente, and Tudelilla. The property features a state-of-the-art gravity-fed cellar designed to handle the fruit with ultimate gentleness. By pioneering modern adjustments alongside classic aging rules, Vivanco focuses on showcasing Rioja as a landscape of elegance, perfume, and fruit-forward balance.
This Crianza stands as an internationally acclaimed expression that is aged for 16 months in a combination of French (60%) and American (40%) oak barrels, followed by an additional 6 months of resting in the bottle racks.
Appellation: DOCa Rioja, Spain
Grapes: 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano, 2% Maturana Tinta – ABV: 13.5%
Tasting notes: Fresh, sweet, and masterfully balanced. It layers complex aromas of ripe red fruit, licorice, and vanilla spice over a smooth, velvety palate with well-integrated oak tannins and an elegant finish.
Pairing: Best served at a standard cellar temperature of 16–18°C. This classic Rioja red acts as an exceptional companion to Mediterranean tapas, rice dishes, roasted pork chops, or white and red meats.
Producer: Bodegas Vivanco
