Mariano and Mónica
La Portera – Requena
In La Portera, at the heart of the Requena plateau, Mariano Taberner stands as one of the pioneers of natural wine in the Valencian region. For nearly twenty years, he has built something truly unique: Bodega Cueva, today Cueva By Mariano a spacious winery that blends a historic vaulted cellar with a carefully restored modern area, all crafted with traditional materials and timeless charm. The place radiates life, patience, and artisanal precision.
Originally from Aldaia, Mariano came to Requena with no vineyards and no contacts, only a deep conviction: to make wine without additives, true to the land and the spirit of the times. From his very first vintages, he stood out for his intuitive, sensitive, and radically honest approach to winemaking. Alongside Joan de la Casa, he was among the first to bring back the now-celebrated skin-contact white wine style or orange wine, especially with Tardana, a native grape variety that was on the verge of disappearing.
Mariano’s wines are like him: bright, creative, and deeply generous. He works mainly with local varieties like Bobal and Tardana, farming organically, using no selected yeasts, no sulfites, no filtering, no gimmicks. But beyond wine, Bodega Cueva is also a joyful playground for experimentation: meads, herbal macerations, naturally dealcoholized sparkling wines, artisanal kombuchas… Every corner of the cellar reveals a curious spirit and a deep reverence for all things living.
What truly sets Mariano apart, even more than the quality of his wines, is his kindness. A man of extraordinary warmth, always open to sharing, explaining, and listening. Having him as part of Vi Natural is a true honour—it feels like opening a door to a more just, vibrant, and human world.