As the heat eases off, the Region of Valencia enters its most food-focused season: grapes are picked in Requena and rice is cut at the Albufera September marks the change of season in the Region of Valencia, and it does so with two harvests that shape much of its food culture: grapes inland from Valencia and rice in its coastal wetland. It's a good month to travel, with less heat, fewer crowds than summer, and a larder that's quite literally out in the fields.

Requena, Spain's wine capital for 2026

The Utiel-Requena area, home to more than 100 wineries, holds the title of Spanish Wine City (Ciudad Española del Vino) for 2026. The grape harvest began in late August with the earliest varieties, chardonnay and pinot noir, and continued through September with macabeo, destined for cava. Every year, Requena's Wine Harvest Festival, one of Spain's oldest, dating back to 1948, marks the start of the campaign in late August with a grape-harvest parade, the opening of the Wine Fountain and the Ferevín wine fair.

Bobal, the last grape into the winery

The Bobal grape, native to this area, is the last to be harvested, with picking concentrated in September. It's the variety that most defines Utiel-Requena's wines, producing medium-bodied reds and rosés very typical of the region. Visiting the area at this time of year means seeing the constant traffic of pickers and trailers loaded with grapes, a sight that's hard to find at any other time of year.

Wineries to visit

Many wineries in Utiel-Requena open their doors for guided tours and tastings, and some let visitors watch the harvest and winemaking process up close. It's a way to get to know inland Valencia province beyond the coast, with vineyard scenery, hearty inland cooking, and a much slower pace than the beach areas.

The Albufera: the rice harvest begins

Meanwhile, in the Albufera Natural Park, right on the edge of the city of Valencia, the rice harvest is getting under way. The earliest varieties are cut from mid-September, and this year the regional government brought forward to 16 September the authorised window for the controlled burning of leftover straw, precisely because the harvest started earlier than usual. Watching the fields turn from green to gold, and then the harvesters working between the canals, is one of the most recognisable sights of the Valencian autumn.

From paddy field to plate: rice from Valencia

The rice grown at the Albufera is the base of paella valenciana and much of the region's rice cooking. Many of the traditional restaurants in El Palmar and the villages around the Albufera serve the freshly harvested rice as soon as the season starts, which draws visitors every September keen to try it at its freshest.

An autumn for food lovers

Between the inland grape harvest and the rice harvest at the Albufera, September and October are good months to travel the Region of Valencia with food as the focus: wine routes around Requena, rice dishes by the Albufera lagoon, and the rest of the seasonal produce starting to appear in the markets, from pomegranates to the first inland mushrooms.

Tips for visitors

Autumn brings milder temperatures than summer, both on the coast and inland, and far fewer tourists than July and August, which means more availability in accommodation and tables at the region's best-known restaurants. At the Albufera, it's worth booking ahead at the best-known restaurants in El Palmar, especially at weekends.

Where to stay

Both in the inland wine country and around the Albufera there's a wide choice of holiday rentals, ideal for anyone wanting to stay close to the wineries or the rice paddies. In the Region of Valencia, legal holiday rentals carry an official registration number (format VT-XXXXX-V, -A or -CS) that must appear in the listing; checking it before you book takes a minute and means there is an identifiable operator behind it. ApturCV, the leading holiday-rental association in the Region of Valencia, explains how in its traveller guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is the grape harvest in Utiel-Requena?

It begins in late August with the earliest varieties and wraps up in September with Bobal, the area's native grape, which is the last to be picked.

When is the rice harvested at the Albufera?

The earliest varieties are cut from mid-September; the controlled burning of leftover straw, authorised by the regional government, began this year on 16 September.

Can you visit a winery in Requena during the harvest?

Yes, many wineries in the area offer guided tours and tastings, and some allow visitors to watch the harvest and winemaking process up close at this time of year. If you're coming to the Region of Valencia this autumn, travel with confidence: choose a legal holiday rental with a registration number. We explain how to spot one in our guide to legal holiday rentals.