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The beginnings of winegrowing in the Marina Alta and Marina Baja regions date back to ancient times. The Phoenicians and later the Romans recognised the potential of the Mediterranean climate and fertile soils for winegrowing. The Romans introduced advanced cultivation methods and made wine an important commodity.
The Moscatel grape was introduced in the Middle Ages, when the Moors ruled the region. This grape continues to shape the wine culture of Marina Alta to this day. Wine production became a key economic factor, particularly in Marina Alta, where wines soon became important commodities.
The 20th century brought with it major challenges, including the devastating phylloxera crisis at the end of the 19th century, which destroyed many vineyards. It took years for the region to recover. However, a period of revival began in the 1920s when winegrowers replanted their vineyards with more resistant grape varieties.
The establishment of the first cooperatives in the 1930s, such as Bodegas Xaló in Marina Alta, contributed significantly to the stabilisation and further development of wine production. These cooperatives enabled smaller winegrowers to join forces and compete in the market together.
After the Second World War, a new era began for viticulture in Marina Alta and Marina Baja. Demand for wine increased, and with it the pressure to modernise production methods. In the 1960s and 1970s, many wineries invested in modern technologies such as stainless steel tanks for fermentation and optimised irrigation systems.
An outstanding example of a successful transition to modernity is Bodegas Enrique Mendoza in L'Alfàs del Pi. Founded in the 1980s, this winery focused on quality and innovation from the outset and integrated international grape varieties into its production.
From the 1980s onwards, tourism on the Costa Blanca increased significantly, which also had an impact on winegrowing in the Marina Alta and Marina Baja regions. The growing number of tourists from all over Europe and beyond led to increased demand for local products, including wine. Many wineries recognised the opportunity to market their wines directly to tourists and set up sales outlets and tasting rooms.
However, globalisation also brought new challenges. Competition on the international wine market became tougher, and wineries had to increasingly assert themselves against competition from other wine-growing regions. This led to greater specialisation and a return to regional strengths, particularly the indigenous Monastrell and Moscatel grape varieties.
Over the last two decades, wine production in Marina Alta and Marina Baja has become increasingly diversified. The growing demand for organic and sustainable products has also left its mark on wine production. More and more wineries are switching to organic viticulture and investing in environmentally friendly technologies.
An outstanding example of this development is Bodegas Francisco Gómez in Villena, which specialises in organic wines.
Francisco Gómez's wines are renowned not only in Spain but also internationally for their high quality and environmentally friendly production methods.
Today, the wineries of Marina Alta and Marina Baja represent a successful symbiosis of tradition and modernity. The wines produced here are not only a delight for the palate, but also an expression of a rich cultural history that deserves to be honoured.