• What this article is about: Dmitry Kesadov’s personal exploration of Monastrell – a defining red grape of Alicante and Murcia.
• What you will find inside: the grape’s origins, traditional powerful styles, the iconic Fondillón, the modern wave of Monastrell, notable wineries, and recommended wines.
• Who it is for: readers living in Spain, planning to move, or discovering the country through its food and wine culture.
• Practical takeaway: Alicante and Murcia wines often deliver exceptional value, especially among entry-level and mid-range Monastrell selections.
• About the author: Dmitry Kesadov is a wine expert and journalist, Enotria wine school graduate, residing in Spain since 1996, focusing on Spanish food, wine, and culture.

The Past and Future of Monastrell

From wine notes to local addresses

Hello, I’m Dmitry Kesadov, wine expert and journalist, bringing you our gastro-wine notes.

Readers familiar with my work know I often take a poetic journey through food and wine, blending imagination, perspective, and rich Spanish flavors.

Today, however, we’ll stay grounded—closer to the roots—offering practical insights that will help you explore local cuisine and the pleasures of Spanish wine more effectively.

This approach means sharing not only stories about food, wine, and events but also specific places, names, and tips to make your discovery more engaging and accessible.

Our future notes will guide you through supermarkets, highlighting what’s worth drinking and what to avoid; we’ll visit bodegas, markets, and small wine shops, and eventually enjoy meals in authentic restaurants—not just places that look like restaurants from the outside.

In Spain, the risk of missing something truly special is everywhere. The most authentic spots rarely advertise loudly; they thrive on word of mouth rather than flashy marketing.

I often see grand announcements for new restaurants that simultaneously note “chef wanted.” I don’t know how they cook without a chef, but from experience, I advise avoiding such places to prevent disappointment.

Our path is different. It’s the path of the aficionado—someone genuinely curious, open to new knowledge and experiences, seeking disfrute: the joy of wine, food, and life itself.

Where to begin in Spain: with wine

Where to start? In Spain, any serious gastronomic conversation naturally begins with wine. Even the simplest meal is elevated by the right bottle. While we’ll eventually explore brandy from Jerez and other drinks, for now, wine takes center stage.

Monastrell, Mourvedre, Mataro: one grape, many names

The undisputed king of this region is Monastrell, a red grape variety. Known as Mourvedre in France and Mataro in Australia, these different names all refer to the same grape, likely introduced to Spain by the Phoenicians over three millennia ago.

Clues to its origins remain: Mataro is still the name of a port near Barcelona, while Mourvedre traces back to an ancient Spanish port near Valencia, now called Sagunto.

The terroir of Alicante and Murcia

Though Monastrell was also brought to northern Spain, the cooler climate in Catalonia proved less suitable. Grapes, like people, seek the environment where they thrive best. Monastrell found its ideal home in Alicante and Murcia, where the climate offers low humidity, limited rainfall, fewer vine diseases, and mild, warm nights and winters.

Today, nearly 80% of vineyards in D.O. Jumilla and surrounding Denominación de Origen areas are planted with Monastrell.

A terroir is like a passport for a grape—it reveals much about the wine even before the bottle is opened.

The old style of Monastrell and Fondillón

Longtime wine enthusiasts recall the traditional Monastrell style: powerful, dense, and full-bodied wines, reminiscent of tasting a rich homemade blueberry pie. Monastrell also gave rise to Fondillón, the region’s legendary wine, deserving its own detailed story.

Monastrell’s past is illustrious. Ships laden with barrels of Monastrell once sailed from Alicante’s port to Rome and other European capitals. Fondillón was once the world’s most famous and expensive wine—not an exaggeration or metaphor.

Where to find powerful Monastrell

Today, some wineries continue producing these robust wines—high in alcohol, full-bodied, with balsamic notes. This traditional style, once called vino negro or “black wine,” is still available.

Look for Monastrell from bodegas such as Barahonda, Juan Gil, Xenysel, Volver, and Luzon. Some of these wines can be found in supermarkets like Consum and Lidl.

This style is bold, rustic, and straightforward.

The new wave of Monastrell

In recent years, a new generation of Monastrell wines has emerged—more complex, refined, and subtle. The wineries mentioned above also experiment with blends, incorporating Syrah (Shiraz) and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Local wines like El Nido have consistently scored over 95 points from Robert Parker, and Casa Castillo’s Monastrell from old vines achieved a perfect 100 points, drawing serious attention from connoisseurs worldwide.

Notable examples include Cerron, Arbuí Monastrell from Alejandro S.L., Chaveo from Bodega Monastrell, Monastrell from Casa Balaguer, and Pepe Mendoza’s Casa Agricola. These wines are well worth seeking out.

Listing all deserving estates would require volumes, but there’s no rush—Spanish wine culture values thoroughness and treats wine as a loyal companion in the art of enjoying life, a core reason Spaniards cherish their existence.

Price and quality

Monastrell wines offer remarkable value. A story illustrates this well.

At a gastronomic dinner hosted by Australian winery Torbreck, my wife and I spoke with Dave Powell, Torbreck’s head. He acknowledged the wines from Alicante and Murcia as direct competitors to Australian Monastrell and Muscat wines. The key difference: Torbreck’s Monastrell, The Pict, cost around $200, while comparable wines from Murcia and Alicante were priced around 10 euros.

That was twenty years ago. Prices have risen but not dramatically. Wines from this region remain among Spain’s best value offerings. Entry-level Monastrells from Casa Castillo, Tarima Hill, Mendoza, and others typically cost just over 10 euros yet deliver far more enjoyment than expected at that price.

Here’s to many more excellent Monastrell wines—and beyond.

Where to buy?

• Qtalgourmet – Torrevieja
• VINESSENCE – Dehesa de Campoamor, Alicante

Which wineries to visit?

• Pepe Mendoza Casa Agricola – Lliber, Alicante
• Bodegas Barahonda – Yecla, Murcia
• Bodegas y Viñedos Volver – Alicante

This article was created by Dmitry Kesadov, wine expert and journalist, in collaboration with TBereg Real Estate.

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