Uclés is a Spanish
Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in the region of
Castile-La Mancha (
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
), around the town of
Uclés
Uclés is a municipality of Spain located in the province of Cuenca, Castilla–La Mancha. The municipality spans across a total area of 64.61 km2 and, as of 1 January 2020, it has a registered population of 212.
History
The fortress and town w ...
in the west of the province of
Cuenca and in the northeast of the province of
Toledo.
History
In 2002 a number of local wine producers (''bodegueros'') formed a quality wine association. The area acquired its DO status in 2006.
Climate
This DOP has a
continental climate
Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm to hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in central and eastern parts of the three northern-tier continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), typi ...
, i.e. long, hot dry summers and cold winters. Average annual rainfall is around 500 mm.
Soils
The vineyards in Uclés DOP are located in three different geological areas:
* Sierra de Altomira. Abrupt landscape and presence of dolomitic limestone
* Western zone. Rolling landscape, comprising sediments, floodplain and valley floors
* Eastern zone. Intermediate depression, comprising ternary deposits
The soils are very varied, though they are mostly sandy, deep and generally not very fertile. Drainage is good and oxygen is available for the root systems of the vines. They are slightly more fertile near the rivers
Riánsares and
Bedija.
Grape Varieties
Authorized grape varieties:
* Red:
Tempranillo
Tempranillo (also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino and Tinta del País in Spain, Aragonez or Tinta Roriz in Portugal, and several other synonyms elsewhere) is a black grape variety widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in it ...
(known locally as
Cencibel),
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon () is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to Lebano ...
,
Merlot
Merlot ( ) is a dark-blue-colored wine grape variety that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of , the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color ...
,
Syrah
Syrah (), also known as Shiraz, is a dark-skinned grape variety grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce red wine. In 1999, Syrah was found to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse ...
, and
Garnacha
* White:
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 stron ...
,
Chardonnay
Chardonnay (, ; ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand. For new a ...
,
Moscatel de Grano Menudo,
Sauvignon blanc
Sauvignon blanc () is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the city of Bordeaux in France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words ''sauvage'' ("wild") and ''blanc'' ("white") due to its early origins as an ind ...
, and
Macabeo
Macabeo, also called Viura or Macabeu (, ), is a white variety of wine grape.
It is widely grown in the Rioja region of northeastern Spain, the Cava producing areas south of Barcelona, and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Spanis ...
Maximum yields, for red wines, are established depending on the age of the vines and on the planting system:
* ≥ 6 years, 8,000 kg/ha (low bush, ''en vaso'') or 11,000 gk/ha (on
trellis, ''en espaldera'')
* ≥ 15 years, 6,500 kg/ha (low bush, ''en vaso'') or 9,500 gk/ha (on trellis, ''en espaldera'')
* ≥ 40 years, 5,000 kg/ha (low bush, ''en vaso'') or 8,00 gk/ha (on trellis, ''en espaldera'')
Vines less than 6 years old may not be used for making wine with the Uclés DOP label.
References
External links
D.O.P. Uclés official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ucles (DO)
Wine regions of Spain