La Mancha is a Spanish
Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines, with over 190,000 ha planted to vines, and is the largest continuous vine-growing area in the world. It is located in the
autonomous community
eu, autonomia erkidegoa
ca, comunitat autònoma
gl, comunidade autónoma
oc, comunautat autonòma
an, comunidat autonoma
ast, comunidá autónoma
, alt_name =
, map =
, category = Autonomous administra ...
of
Castile-La Mancha in central
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and includes 182 municipalities: 12 in the province of
Albacete
Albacete (, also , ; ar, ﭐَلبَسِيط, Al-Basīṭ) is a city and municipality in the Spanish autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha, and capital of the province of Albacete.
Lying in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula, the ...
, 58 in
Ciudad Real, 66 in
Cuenca and 46 in
Toledo.
History
The first written documentation on viticulture in the region dates from the 12th century, though it is generally believed that vines were introduced by the
ancient Romans
In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 ...
as in other regions of the
Iberian peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula (),
**
* Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica''
**
**
* french: Péninsule Ibérique
* mwl, Península Eibérica
* eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, def ...
.
Wine production took off in the 1940s due to the setting up of numerous cooperatives in the region.
Viticulture is the economic mainstay of many of the municipalities that form part of the DOP.
Climate
The climate is
continental
Continental may refer to:
Places
* Continent, the major landmasses of Earth
* Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US
* Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US
Arts and entertainment
* ''Continental'' ( ...
(long, hot summers and cold winters) and ranges from extremes of -15 °C in winter to 45 °C in summer. Drought is also common due to the
micro-climate
A microclimate (or micro-climate) is a local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the surrounding areas, often with a slight difference but sometimes with a substantial one. The term may refer to areas as small as a few squ ...
of La Mancha, which prevents moisture-bearing winds from crossing it; mean annual rainfall is about 300 to 400 mm. On the other hand, the vines are exposed to about 3,000 hours of sunlight per year.
Soil
The soil structure is very homogeneous throughout the region and tends to be flat. It is formed of reddish-brown sandy clay, which is poor in organic material and rich in lime and chalk. Strata of lime are common and are often broken to allow the roots of the vines to pass through.
The land rises constantly from north to south, from 480 m above sea level in
Aranjuez
Aranjuez () is a city and municipality of Spain, part of the Community of Madrid.
Located in the southern end of the region, the main urban nucleus lies on the left bank of Tagus, a bit upstream the discharge of the Jarama. , the municipality h ...
in the north to 700 m above sea level in La Mancha in the south.
Authorised Grape varieties
The following are the authorised grape varieties:
* Red:
Cencibel,
Pinot Noir,
Graciano
Graciano is a Spanish red wine grape that is grown primarily in Rioja. The vine produces a low yield that are normally harvested in late October. The wine produced is characterized by its deep red color, strong aroma and ability to age w ...
,
Malbec
Malbec () is a purple grape variety used in making red wine. The grapes tend to have an inky dark color and robust tannins, and are known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. In France, plantations of Malbec are n ...
,
Garnacha Tinta
Grenache () or Garnacha () is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world.Niels Lillelund: ''Rhône-Vinene'' p. 25, JP Bøger – JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. . It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditio ...
,
Moravía Dulce / Crujidera,
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot,
Mencía,
Monastrell,
Petit Verdot
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen it adds tannin, ...
,
Bobal
Bobal is a variety of ''Vitis vinifera'', a red grape used in winemaking. It is native to the Utiel-Requena region in Valencia, Spain, Valencia, Spain. The presence of Bobal in Utiel-Requena was documented in the 15th century in "Espill o llibre ...
, and
Syrah
* White:
Airén
Airén is a variety of ''Vitis vinifera'', a white grape commonly used in winemaking. This grape is native to Spain where it represents almost a quarter of all grapes grown. As of 2010, Airén was estimated to be the world's 3rd most grown grape ...
,
Moscatel de Grano Menudo
Muscatel ( ) is a type of wine made from muscat grapes. The term is now normally used in the United States to refer to a fortified wine made from these grapes rather than just any wine made from these grapes. This fortified muscatel became pop ...
,
Macabeo / Viura,
Chardonnay,
Sauvignon blanc,
Parellada
Parellada () is a Spanish white grape variety of Catalan origin specially grown in Catalonia, Spain. With Macabeu and Xarel·lo, it is one of the three traditional varieties used to make the sparkling wine Cava, which is primarily produced in ...
,
Pedro Ximénez
Pedro Ximénez (also known as PX and many other variations) is the name of a white Spanish wine grape variety grown in several Spanish wine regions but most notably in the '' denominación de origen'' (DO) of Montilla-Moriles. Here it is used to ...
,
Riesling
Riesling (, ; ) is a white grape variety that originated in the Rhine region. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and sparkling wh ...
,
Torrontés
Torrontés is a white grape variety, mostly produced and known in Argentine wine, producing fresh, aromatic wines with moderate acidity, smooth texture and mouthfeel as well as distinctive peach and apricot aromas on the nose.Robinson, Jancis '' ...
,
Verdejo
Verdejo is a variety of wine grape that has long been grown in the Rueda region of Spain. The grape originated in North Africa, and was spread to Rueda in about the 11th Century, possibly by Mozarabs. Verdejo was generally used to make a strongl ...
,
Viognier, and
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer () is an aromatic wine grape variety, used in white wines, and performs best in cooler climates. In English, it is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz (; although this is never the case in German, because "Gewürz" me ...
.
Wines Produced
The following eight categories are authorised for La Mancha DOP wines:
* Young Wines. Must be consumed in a period not exceeding nine months after their preparation.
* Traditional Wines. Wines of the last vintage or previous, made in the traditional system of the DO. This section would also include naturally sweet white wines.
* Wines aged in oak barrels. Wines with a production equal to that of young wines or traditional, but with a minimum time in oak barrels for 60 days.
* Crianza wines. With two years of natural aging, of which one must be in barrel and bottle.
* Reserva wines. With a minimum of twelve months aging in oak and twenty-four months in bottle.
* Gran Reserva wines. With a minimum of twenty four months aging in oak and thirty-six months in bottle.
* Semi-sparkling. Wines that by their particular development retain a small amount of carbon dioxide from the fermentation of sugars.
* Sparkling/Espumosos. White or rosé. Wines made with the
traditional champenoise method.
References
External links
D.O.P. La Mancha official website
{{Wines
Wine regions of Spain