Decanter Presents... new event series

Few regions are as linked to their flagship indigenous variety as Utiel-Requena is to Bobal. The grape has grown in the region since before the arrival of phylloxera and has remained intrinsically linked with its identity and landscape.

Its crunchiness and inherent freshness were not always valued but today, with an increasing focus on elegant, vibrant wines and with climate change looming large, Bobal is finally being understood for what it really is: a variety not of the past but of the future.

Join us on Thursday 24 September for an evening of discovery, exploring a stellar lineup of Bobal wines that showcases the variety's versatility and idiosyncrasies. From refreshing examples designed for early drinking to oak-aged iterations with surprising ageing potential by way of a Bobal vinified in amphorae, this will be a very special tasting at the crossroads of history, sustainability and craftsmanship.

Sarah Jane Evans MW is an award-winning journalist who began writing about wine (and food, restaurants, and chocolate) in the 1980s. She started drinking Spanish wine - Sherry, to be specific - as a student of classics and social and political sciences at Cambridge University. This started her lifelong love affair with the country’s wines, food and culture, leading to her appointment as a member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros de Vino for services to Spanish wine. In 2006 she became a Master of Wine, writing her dissertation on Sherry and winning the Robert Mondavi Winery Award. Currently vice-chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine, Evans divides her time between contributing to leading wine magazines and reference books, wine education and judging wines internationally.

Regional Editor | Spain, Portugal and South America

Ines is Decanter’s regional editor for Spain, Portugal and South America. Born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal, she grew up chasing her grandfather among his vines in Ribatejo and thus her love for all things wine began. After completing her Masters Degree in Architecture, Ines worked as a project manager while writing about wine and doing cellar consulting on the side. After moving to London nine years ago, she decided to dedicate herself fully to the wine industry and joined the sommelier team at Michelin-starred Spring, Somerset House. Stints at Noble Rot and The Laughing Heart followed, while completing her WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits.

Her work as a judge and writer eventually became her full time commitment and she joined Decanter in 2019 as wine database editor.