Author and photos: Leah Pattem
An abandoned winery the size of a football stadium stands on the coast of Valencia in the northern area of Alboraia. Built in 1969 during the region’s industrial heyday, this redbrick complex once held up to 32 million litres of wine. It was among the first Spanish wineries to export abroad and, at its peak, a quarter of all wine leaving Spain passed through here.
Locally known as the ‘Kremlin’, the winery has been disused since 2008, when production moved to Chiva. In years since, it’s become a magnet for urban explorers. In 2022, the council briefly opened it for heritage tours but, beyond this fleeting appreciation, the complex has largely fallen into disrepair, sparking debate over the future of the barrio.
This year, the town of Alboraia approved the ‘Vinival’ project, a redevelopment plan set to breathe new life into the complex. The project includes 974 new homes, 313 of which will be designated as protected housing. Plans also feature a central plaza, green spaces and a school. The bodega’s redbrick core remains sound and will be preserved – potentially repurposed as a commercial hub with shops, bars, restaurants, a municipal market and a health centre. This new development could foster a thriving new neighbourhood.
To achieve this, the new homes must be affordable, sustainable and built with flood protection infrastructure – an essential consideration in Valencia. Protections should be in place to stop speculative investors from colonising the area. These homes should not become second residences, holiday homes or tourist rentals. Excellent public transport links are also crucial, preventing isolation and integrating the area into the broader fabric of Valencia. With careful planning, this development could help the city grow into a true rival to Madrid and Barcelona.
Let’s build Spain and secure a stable future for everyone. This is our constitutional right and should be our reality. We shouldn’t have to fight for it but if we must, we will.
Mark your calendars: Spain’s first national housing protest takes place on Saturday 5 April at 12pm in every major city
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