The Denomination of Origin Valencia and the neighbouring DO Utiel-Requena together form one of Spain’s most important wine-producing regions. With more than 50,000 hectares of vineyard and hundreds of wineries — from large cooperatives to small boutique producers — the need for specialist climate control is a constant in an area where summer temperatures easily exceed 40 C and harvests take place in the full heat.
At Acoval, from our base in Aldaia, we have been working with wineries across the province of Valencia for years. Our experience in industrial HVAC, combined with an understanding of the particular needs of the Valencian wine sector, allows us to deliver technical solutions that respect the product and optimise energy efficiency.
Valencia’s climate as a challenge for winemaking
The DO Valencia area spans from coastal districts to inland zones such as the Hoya de Bunol, the Valle de los Alcores and the Utiel-Requena plateau, at altitudes ranging from sea level to 900 metres. This geographical diversity creates very different climatic conditions, but with one common factor: hot summers that coincide with grape ripening and harvest.
Native varieties such as Bobal, Monastrell, Garnacha Tintorera and the white grapes Merseguera and Malvasia have adapted to these conditions. However, wine production in the cellar demands temperature control that the natural climate cannot guarantee.
Without climate control, alcoholic fermentation in a Valencian winery during September can reach temperatures that kill the yeast and produce wines with irreversible aromatic defects. Temperature control is not an option — it is a technical necessity.
Climate control during fermentation
Thermal requirements during harvest are the most demanding of a winery’s annual cycle:
- White and rose wines (Merseguera, Malvasia, Bobal rose): controlled fermentation between 14 C and 18 C. Tank cooling via glycol jackets fed by water chillers is the standard approach.
- Red wines (Bobal, Monastrell, Tempranillo): fermentation between 24 C and 28 C. Although the target temperature is higher than for whites, tank cooling is still necessary to prevent temperature spikes during peak fermentative activity.
The required cooling capacity depends on the production volume, the number of tanks fermenting simultaneously and the ambient temperature. In the Utiel-Requena area, where September nights can be cool, requirements are lower than at coastal wineries.
Ageing and storage
Once fermentation is complete, wineries that age wine in barrels need to maintain their barrel rooms at a constant temperature between 12 C and 16 C, with relative humidity of 70% to 80%.
In Valencia’s inland wineries, where winters are cold, the HVAC system must also provide heating to prevent temperatures from dropping too far and slowing the wine’s evolution. Reversible heat pump systems are particularly well suited to these facilities, covering both needs with a single unit.
For storage cellars and bottle-ageing rooms, thermal stability between 10 C and 14 C is essential. Sudden fluctuations can cause expansion that compromises the cork seal.
Technical solutions for Valencian wineries
Depending on the size and needs of each winery, the most common solutions are:
- Water chillers: generate chilled water for tank jackets and room air handling units. They are the heart of the winery’s refrigeration installation.
- Glycol circuits: necessary when temperatures below 0 C are required, such as for tartrate stabilisation (between -4 C and -6 C).
- Room air handlers with humidity control: specialist units for barrel rooms that regulate both temperature and relative humidity simultaneously.
- Reversible heat pumps: for wineries that need both cooling in summer and heating in winter, with high energy performance.
Why choose a local installer
DO Valencia and DO Utiel-Requena wineries are between 30 and 90 minutes from our base in Aldaia, depending on location. This proximity is especially valuable during harvest, when any failure in the refrigeration system must be resolved within hours to avoid compromising fermentation.
We offer preventive maintenance with scheduled inspections before harvest, ensuring the entire installation is ready when the critical moment arrives.
If your winery in the DO Valencia or DO Utiel-Requena needs a new HVAC installation, an extension or a reliable maintenance service, contact us via our contact page. We visit your winery and propose a technical solution tailored to your production.
