Cottages in Utiel

Let’s start with the word rural in the name of the hotel. The good is a beautiful location in the vineyards of the Útiel Requena wine region. It is quiet and the setting is lovely a few miles outside of Útiel. The bodegas Nodus winery is right next door. The bad is that it is rural. Kind of rustic including two occasions where the water stopped running. I don’t think that is the fault of the hotel but it may come with the territory. We got off to a good start, our hostess Lorena kept in contact on WhatsApp and greeted us when we arrived. She spoke only Spanish but we were able to communicate with my limited Spanish skills. She arranged a wine tasting next door on the following day and scheduled us for dinner in their dining room. Dinner was excellent with good wine and huge portions. There was a French couple with their father also dining and staying. Lorena told us that they wouldn’t be serving dinner the next night but didn’t mention we wouldn’t see her again. In fact the French guests left after the tasting the next morning and we were literally the only people at the hotel. A woman appeared to fix our breakfast but otherwise - nobody! It was certainly quiet and peaceful but a little weird. We struggled finding a spot for dinner in town the second night but eventually found a wonderful little pizza restaurant in Requena called Pizzeria Rodelu, highly recommended. When we were ready to leave I had to show the breakfast lady how to operate the credit card machine. I’m sure there are times when they are busier but if you want peace and quiet, nice grounds, great setting then it’s good. Remember it’s rural though.

This is an oasis between 2 points and a comfortable place for a getaway.Ana provided a good recommendation to a small wine bodega for an afternoon enjoyment. The evening of wine tasting, altho in Espanol, could have been done in English as the presentor spoke English, is not to be missed with the dinner served in the old bodegas …one of those life experiences that you will remember forever.