El Ninot de Paper
Valencia, Spain
El Ninot de Paper brings a wonderfully fun and slightly chaotic energy to Spanish wine, which feels entirely appropriate considering the range takes inspiration from Valencia’s famous Las Falles festival. Named after the papier-mâché figures paraded and burned during the celebrations, the wines lean bright, fruity and unapologetically easygoing rather than serious, heavily oaked or intimidating. Honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a bottle of wine.
Produced by Bodegas Murviedro in Valencia, the range focuses on fresh, approachable styles packed with juicy fruit and soft spice. The reds combine varieties like Garnacha, Shiraz and Monastrell to create wines full of blackberry, plum and peppery notes with smooth tannins and plenty of easy drinkability. The whites stay crisp, citrusy and refreshing, built more for sunny afternoons and second glasses than deep philosophical reflection.
What makes El Ninot de Paper especially appealing is how unpretentious it feels. There’s no attempt to overcomplicate things with endless winemaking jargon or dramatic tasting notes involving damp libraries and antique furniture. These are wines designed to be enjoyed casually, preferably with food, friends and a table that gets progressively louder throughout the evening.
The packaging also deserves some credit because the labels genuinely stand out without tipping fully into novelty territory. Bright, playful and recognisably Spanish, they match the personality of the wines perfectly.
