Bodegas Volver & Casa Rojo

Despite the COVID-19 resurgence in Spain, early August I decided to stick to my plans and to go discover the wines made in the area around Alicante and Murcia.

My first visit right out of the plane has been Bodegas Volver, which I discovered by reviewing a wine I bought at Denner: Solnia 2014 (www.thelovedwine.com/solnia-2014).

At the winery I tasted two whites: Tarima Mediterraneo 2019, made with Moscatel & Merseguera grapes that sells for 5.80 EUR, and Tarima Blanco 2018, a blend of Chardonnay & Merseguera that ferments in barriques and sells for 9.90 EUR. I also tasted two reds: Tarima Hill Monastrell 2017 that sells for 10.40 EUR and Triga 2016, a blend of 85% Monastrel & 15% Cabernet Sauvignon that sells for 31 EUR. At the end I tasted Tarima Sparkling 2019, made with Moscatel & Merseguera grapes that sells for 5.50 EUR. All wines produced under the Alicante DO that offers a very good price/quality ratio.

I didn’t get to taste Solnia, which is produced only for the export market, but I reasons to conclude it is exactly the same wine locally bottled as Tarima Hill.

Right after Bodegas Volver I visited Bodegas Rojo, a fancier winery with a strong focus on marketing.

At Bodegas Rojo I tasted three wines. Haru 2019, a rosé made with the typical southern Rhône blend of Grenache, Monastrell and Syrah that sells for 15.10 EUR. Enemigo Mio 2019, a varietal wine made with Grenache grapes that sells for 11.90 EUR. MMM 2018, the flagship wine of Casa Rojo. It is made with 100% Monastrell, the grape typical of the region. At the winery it sells for 22.90 EUR, almost 30% more than the 18 EUR I paid for the 2016 vintage at El Corte Inglés in Palma de Mallorca (www.thelovedwine.com/machoman-2016). I wonder if the price went up or, as it is often the case, the winery sells at a higher price than the stores.

Although it isn’t far from Bodegas Volver, the wines of Casa Rojo are made under the Jumilla DO. All pleasant wines, but without the good price/quality ratio of the ones of Bodegas Volver.

Country: Spain
Region: Alicante, Murcia
Grapes: Monastrell/Mourvedre, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscatel, Merseguera, Chardonnay
Type: Red, White, Sparkling
Vintage: 2016, 2017, 2018
Producer: Bodegas Volver, Casa Rojo
Price range: Economic (<15 US$), Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5