Castilla-La Mancha

DO in Spain, located as an enclave within the huge DO La Mancha, named after the town of the same name. The name translates as “valley of stones/rocks”. The vineyards are located at an altitude of around 700 metres above sea level, with a total extent of around 30.000 hectares on stony, reddish soil with a water-retaining layer of limestone. The climate is extreme, and has been described as “nine months of winter and three months of hell (hot and dry)”. As recently as the early 1990’s, the share of white Airen vines was still around 80%, since then this has been reduced to around 50%, thanks to new plantings of red varieties such as Cencibel (Tempranillo), Garnacha Tinta (Grenache Noir) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Other white varieties cultivated include Macabeo, Pardillo and Moravia Agria. The region became famous worldwide in the mid-19th century for a light red wine (blended with white wine) called Clarete, and exported as far afield as South America. This light red wine, known as „Tinto Tradicional“ (colloquially also known as „Tinto Valdepeñas“) is still very popular today. Red grapes (minimum of 20% Cencibel) and white grapes are mixed after picking, and fermented together. The usual ratio is around 50:50. However, the varietal wines produced from Cencibel, and frequently matured in barriques, are considered to be the best wines of the region. Rosé wines are made mainly from Cencibel and/or Garnacha Tinta. The white wines are made mainly from Airén. Well-known producers include: Aruspide, Miguel Calatayud, Dionisos, Bodegas J. A. Megía e Hijos, Bodegas Los Llanos, Rafael López-Tello, Bodegas Los Marcos, Márquez, Miguel Martín, Juan Ramírez, Bodegas Real, Bodegas Félix Solís (Viña Albali), Casa de la Viña and Visán.