The land at 600 metres — an interview with Vegamar Bodegas.
Founded in 1999 in Calles, at the heart of the Alto Turia region of Valencia, Vegamar Bodegas has spent more than two decades proving that altitude is not a constraint — it is a character. We spoke with the winery about its origins, its most sacred plot, and the philosophy that runs through every bottle.
For those reading about you for the first time, what can you tell us about the winery and what idea has guided your project from the beginning?
Vegamar Bodegas was founded in 1999 in Calles, in the heart of the Alto Turia region of Valencia, within the D.O. Valencia appellation. The Coll family was the driving force behind a project that from day one had a clear premise: to showcase a unique mountain territory and produce wines capable of expressing the altitude and freshness of the Alto Turia.
We always work with our own vineyards at elevation, which has allowed us to maintain a very defined style: wines with a Mediterranean identity, but with an elegance shaped by the influence of the Alto Turia.
What specific story explains how the winery came to be, and how does that beginning still show in your wines today?
The winery was born from the personal dream of Vicente Coll, the family patriarch. His desire was to prove that the high lands of the Turia could produce great wines, distinct from the typical wines of the Mediterranean. His determination to listen to the land, respect its cycles and experiment with local varieties continues to guide every decision we make today.
That philosophy — that obsession with quality and absolute respect for origin — is the thread that runs through every wine we produce.
Which vineyard or plot do you consider the heart of the winery, and how does that translate into the glass?
Our heart beats in Pago 001, the oldest and most symbolic plot at Vegamar.
It was the first vineyard we chose and, literally, where everything began. Located between the valley and the Turia cliff face, at 600 metres above sea level, on poor, stony soils, it was originally called La Muela and planted with Tempranillo — the variety with which we took our first steps.
Years later we replanted part of the plot with Garnacha Tintorera, an indigenous variety that today defines our identity.
From this place comes Altos de la Muela, produced exclusively from a meticulous selection of the finest parcels and aged in new French oak barrels.
At La Muela, the land speaks. And that attentiveness translates into working the vineyard to achieve wines with true character.
What tradition do you uphold without exception, and what recent innovation has elevated your quality?
The most sacred tradition at Vegamar is harvesting when nature dictates. Owning our own vineyards allows us to pick at exactly the right moment, without being tied to fixed calendars: the vine speaks, and we respond.
If someone wants to start exploring your winery, which wine do you recommend as a first purchase, and what credentials back that choice?
We recommend starting with Huella de Merseguera, a white wine made from an indigenous variety found almost exclusively in our area. It is an elegant, fresh wine that is highly representative of the altitude of the Alto Turia.
It also carries recent international recognition, including the Decanter 2025 Award, which places it among the most outstanding Merseguera wines in the D.O. Valencia.