532311 Tue Jun 24 13:05:28 -0700 2008 2 34 Wine 0 3809785 I've decided I want to branch out and have heard a lot about wines from places like Valencia and Alicante in Spain. Does anyone have any recommendations? I prefer red rather than white wines. Tue Jun 24 13:05:29 -0700 2008 174231 Lizzo 1 3811424 You may wish to check out Monastrell from Alicante. It's the best known grape from that area. Monastrell is another name for Mouvedre, the red Rhone grape. I've had a couple of tasty ones from there. I'm not as familiar with the regular wines from Valencia. Monastrell is also made there, and there is a wine --- a dessert wine -- made there that I love: Pedro Ximenez. That's quite a treat. These areas are somewhat obscure, and require a guide to make recommendations. I'd Google or use CellarTracker for recommendations, or find a good Spanish food shop that carries wines and who knows his inventory. Lots of good buys in Monastrell. Tue Jun 24 22:33:13 -0700 2008 3809785 18222 maria lorraine 1 3814635 There is an amazing boom in wines from the Valencia region and its three Denominaciones de Origen: Alicante, Utiel-Requena, and Valencia. All styles of wine are made there, from sparkling Cava to Alicante's unique Madeira-style Fondillón. For a classic traditional Monastrell, you could seek out "Raspay" from Primitivo Quiles (Alicante). More modern wines are being made by Enrique Mendoza (Alicante). The Utiel-Requena has its own unique red grape, Bobal, with great colour and intensity. The dry and sweet Moscatel whites are alos classics of the region. More information available on www.winesofvalencia.com. Thu Jun 26 00:11:41 -0700 2008 3809785 204057 jmaher