Vall de Xaló

The Vall de Xaló is the farming valley followed by the Gorgos River through the mountains of the Marina Alta, with Jalón as one of its main villages. The mild Mediterranean climate and valley soils have supported a landscape of terraces, carob and almond trees and, above all, Moscatel vineyards, which still define the agricultural character of the area today.

A landscape of vines and raisins

Through the 19th century, much of the valley's economy revolved around the raisin trade, shipped out to England and other European markets through the port of Denia. Raisins later lost ground to wine and table grapes, but Moscatel remained the dominant variety, and the valley still holds around 500 hectares of vineyard spread across Jalón and its neighbouring villages. The result is a landscape of terraces held up by dry-stone walls, a traditional building technique that is now recognised as part of the area's heritage.

Exploring the valley

The Gorgos rises in the inland ranges, runs through Jalón and Gata de Gorgos, and finally reaches the sea within the boundaries of Jávea, near Cape Sant Antoni. Exploring the valley mostly means driving or walking country roads through the vineyards, with the Castell d'Aixa watching over it from above and the town's ethnological museum a good starting point for understanding what you see. The best time to visit is the grape harvest in late summer, when the valley's wineries are busiest, though the farming landscape is enjoyable year-round, away from the crowds of the nearby coast.