There are places where wine is not just wine. It’s climate, it’s landscape, it’s character... And Murcia is one of them.
And that’s where we’ve come in this new Raíces On Tour, with two stops in mind: Jumilla and Cartagena. But this time we’re not traveling alone.
We are accompanied by Pablo Martínez, chef of the Eszencia restaurant in Cartagena.
A Cartagenian who feels his land… and cooks it. And today, our guide.
Monastrell: the bossy grape
There are many reasons to come to Jumilla. One of them, without a doubt, is to get to know its native variety up close: Monastrell.
It is the undisputed queen of the vineyards, and it has earned it. We’re talking about a grape that has toughened up in poor soils, under a dry climate, and has learned to survive and give its best without needing much pampering.
That’s why its wines are like this: intense, full-bodied, with character.
But also with that elegance that appears when everything is in its place: ripe fruit, spicy notes, and a mineral background that speaks directly of the land.
In our Equilibrio wine collection, Monastrell expresses itself just like that: without unnecessary adornments, with authenticity and the strength of its origin.
Especially in Equilibrio Monastrell and Equilibrio Selección, two wines that are pure Jumilla in the glass.
Cartagena, according to Pablo Martínez
We get back in the car with Pablo and head to Cartagena.
First stop: the Port. A perfect starting point to understand the city and let yourself go.
From there, the plan is simple: get lost in the historic center. Streets where Roman legacy and modernism coexist, and where every corner has a story to tell. “Cartagena is a journey through time,” he tells us. And he’s right.
But if there’s one place that’s non-negotiable on any visit, he’s clear: “The Cabo de Palos Lighthouse. The views there are something else.”
And he’s so right…
The Mediterranean unfolds with all its beauty before our eyes.
And now, time to eat!
After walking around, it’s time to sit at the table.
At Eszencia, Pablo gives us a direct recommendation:
Iberian pork rice with black trumpet mushrooms. And here there’s no room for discussion.
The pairing
To accompany it, he’s just as clear: Equilibrio Selección.
A wine with the structure and juiciness needed to match the dish.
It doesn’t overpower, but it doesn’t fall behind either.
It works because there’s coherence.
Because the intensity of the Iberian pork and the character of the Monastrell play in the same league.
And because when product and wine speak the same language, everything fits naturally.
“It’s a combination that never fails,” he tells us. And we don’t plan to disagree.
We continue the route
And so we close this stop of Raíces On Tour through Murcia. A land where wine doesn’t need much explanation. And where Monastrell speaks loud and clear.
See you on the next Raíces On Tour!