Wine Region Castilla y León
Castilla y León is a large and diverse wine region, producing a range of red and white wines.
Castilla y León includes nine DO regions:
- DO Rueda (1982)
- DO Ribera del Duero (1982)
- DO Toro (1987)
- DO Bierzo (1988)
- DO Cigales (1991)
- DO Arlanza (2007)
- DO Arribes (2007)
- DO Tierra de León (2007)
- DO Tierra del Vino de Zamora (2008)
Black Grapes | White Grapes |
|
65% Tempranillo |
|
Red Wines | White Wines |
|
|
|
Soil | Climate |
|
Hilly |
Hot Summers |
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero (Banks of Duero) is one of Spain's top red wine regions.
The region attracts wine-lovers from around the globe with red Ribera del Duero wines made from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grape. A small amount of rosado wine is also made in the region.
The vineyards flank the Duero River and stretch up to limestone cliffs that rise between 700 and 1,000 meters above sea level.
Some producers successfully blend in Bordeaux varieties.
In 1864, Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, a Bordeaux-trained Spanish winemaker, established Vega Sicilia east of Valladolid. He planted his vineyards with Tinto Fino (Temranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, and started to create wine blends with significant commercial success.
Vega Sicilia is one of Spain's most notable producers.
Appellation Rules
DO wines must contain minimum 75% Tempranillo (most are made with 100 percent).
Blends may contain maximun 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Malbec.
| Name | Aging |
|---|---|
| Cosecha | No aging spesification |
| Crianza | Min 24 months. Min 12 months in Barrel |
| Reserva | Min 36 months. Min 12 months in Barrel |
| Grand ReservaCrianza | Min 48 months. Min 24 months in Barrel |
Rosé wines can undergo traditional aging similar to red wines, and can be aged to crianza, reserva, and gran reserva, as well as the non-aging cosecha classification.
| Black Grapes | White Grapes |
|
90% Tino Finto |
1% Albillo |
| Soil | Climate |
|
Sand / Silt / Clay Topsoil. |
Hot and Dry Continental. |
Rueda DO (1980)
Rueda DO is located in the dry Castilla y Leon region.
The vines have to work hard to grow in Rueda, and you can taste it in the wines.
Irrigation is needed from the Duero River that flows through the area.
Wines labeled Rueda DO must contain 50% Verdejo blended with Sauvignon blanc or Macabeo.
Wines labeled "Rueda Verdejo" often contains 100% Verdejo.
The Rueda DO is centered around the town of Rueda, in the province of Valladolid. The land is a flat high plain at 600 to 800 metres (2,000 - 2600 ft) above sea level. This means there is a considerable difference between day and night temperatures.
Rueda DO Production 2020
| White | Black | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 110 500 000 kg | 1 210 000 kg | 111 710 000 kg |
Rueda DO Production History
| Black Grapes | White Grapes |
|
|
83% Verdejo |
| Soil | Climate |
|
Gravelly. |
Hot and Dry Continental. |
Toro DO (1987)
Toro DO is named after the city of Toro (bull). It is located in the dry Castilla y Leon region.
Due to high temperatures, abdundant sunshine and low rainfall the area produces strong, high-alcohol wines.
Toro is well-known for its powerful, full bodied red wines made from Tinta da Toro.
Irrigation is needed from the Duero River that flows through the area.
Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) is the dominant grape.
Some Garnacha is grown for use in Toro Rosado.
Some Malvasia Blanca and Verdejo for use in Toro Blanco.
| Black Grapes | White Grapes |
|
95% Tinta del Toro |
|
Soil
The soil is formed by sediments of sand, clays and lime-bearing puddingstone, which produce a dark lime-bearing topsoil, with fine and coarse sands.
Vineyard area: 5 600 hectares.
Climate
Extreme Continental Climate
Long, hot summers, cold winters.
Low Rainfall (350 mm/year).
Abdundant Sunshine (2.600 h/year).
Irrigation is needed from the Duero River.
Altitudes: 650-825 m.
Temperatures: –11 to +40°C (12-104°F)
DO Arlanza
Arlanza DO is located to the north of Ribera del Duero. The DO takes its name from the river Arlanza which flows through it.
The first written evidence of wine production in this area comes from the 12th century, when the monastery of Santa María de Bujedo de Juarros purchased vineyards on the banks of the rivers Arlanza and Duero.
Principle Reds: Tempranillo. Cabernet Sauvignon. Petit Verdot. Merlot.
Principle Whites: Albillo. Viura.
Climate: Altitude: 800 - 1200 m
Soil: Sand and Gravel. Clays in deeper layers.
DO Arribes
Arribes, on the border with Portugal, is a reasonably obscure wine region. Its speciality is the esoteric Bruñal grape: low yielding and dark-skinned. Nonetheless, it can produce spicy and full-bodied Spanish wine.
Principle Reds: Juan García. Tempranillo. Bruñal. Rufete.
Principle Whites: Malvasía Castellana.
Soil: Granite-Slate.
DO Bierzo
Principle Reds: Mencía. Alicante Bouschet.
Principle Whites: Doña Blanca. Godillo. Palomini. Malvasia.
Soil: a mixture of fine elements, quartz and slate.
The Bierzo DOP has a special microclimate which is beneficial for viticulture. On the one hand it is similar to the climate of Galicia with regard to humidity and rainfall, and on the other it is also similar to the hot, dry climate of Castile. The low altitude also helps to prevent late frosts and means that the grape harvest is usually about one month earlier than in Castile. The average annual temperature is around 12°C, with the minimum in winter of 3.5°C and maximum in summer of 24°C. The average annual rainfall is just over 700 mm, and the vines receive about 2,200 hours of sunshine per year. (Wikipedia)
DO Cigales
Cigales, just north of Ribera del Duero, is rapidly catching up with its larger neighbour. Its old bush vines, rocky soils, and high elevation are impressive; the best of Cigales has weight and finesse.
Principle Reds: Tempranillo. Garnacha.
Principle Whites: Albillo. Verdejo.
Do Tierra de León
The large expanse of vineyards south of León has seen dramatic improvements in quality lately. The dark-skinned grape Prieto Picudo is gaining a following for its aromatic, powerful reds.
Principle Reds: Prieto Picudo. Mencía.
Principle Whites: Verdejo. Albarín. Godello.
Tierra de Zamora
To the west of Toro are the vineyards of Tierra de Zamora – red grapes are the mainstay of production here. The best vineyard sites flank the Douro river, planted on deep, sandy soils. Old bush vines, as ever, yield the most exciting Tempranillo reds in Zamora.
Principle Reds: Tempranillo. Garnacha. Cabernet Sauvignon.
Principle Whites: Malvasía. Moscatel. Verdejo. Albillo. Palomino. Godello.
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