Atance
Valencia, Spain
Atance is the personal project of winemaker Toni Sarrión, one of the key figures behind the revival of high-altitude Mediterranean wine in eastern Spain. Based in Valencia, the project grew out of Toni’s wider work at Mustiguillo, where he became widely respected for championing native Spanish grape varieties and proving that inland Valencia could produce wines with freshness, elegance, and real character rather than simply heat and power. Atance feels like a more relaxed extension of that same philosophy, focused on expressing landscape and local identity in a very approachable way.
What makes the project especially interesting is the landscape the vineyards come from. Much of the fruit is sourced from higher-altitude sites around Valencia and Almansa, where cooler nights and poorer limestone soils help preserve acidity and balance despite the warm Mediterranean climate. Toni was one of the producers who really helped change perceptions around these areas, showing that with the right vineyard sites and sensitive farming, the wines could feel vibrant, energetic, and distinctly regional rather than heavy or overworked.
There’s also a strong connection to local grape varieties running through the whole range, especially Bobal, which for years was largely overlooked outside bulk wine production. Toni Sarrión became one of the major voices arguing that old-vine Bobal deserved to be treated seriously, and projects like Atance helped introduce a lot of drinkers to a fresher, more elegant side of the grape. The wines tend to feel very Mediterranean but without excess. Bright fruit, herbal notes, freshness, texture, and a slightly wild edge that keeps everything lively and easy to drink.
Despite the reputation Toni has built internationally, Atance still feels very grounded and unpretentious. Nothing about the wines leans into luxury branding or overcomplicated winemaking language. The whole project seems built around making honest, expressive wines that genuinely reflect eastern Spain while still feeling relaxed and welcoming to drink.
