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WINES OF SPAIN
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Castilla y León
| Kast-Ee-Ya Ee Lee-Own |
DO Ribera del Duero
| Ree-Ber-Ah Dell Dwer-Oh |
— Known for its rich and powerful
expression of the Tempranillo grape, called Tinto Fino or Tinta del País locally, Ribera del Duero
now rivals Rioja for world-class status. Its high altitude and continental climate results in a
thick-skinned fruit that is relatively low in acid.
DO Rueda
| Roo-Ay-Dah |
— This region is known for high-quality, medium-bodied white wines
made from Verdejo, which are remarkably aromatic and fresh due to the region’s altitude.
DO Bierzo
/Bee-Er-Zoh/
— A small region in northwest Spain, this area is sheltered from the
climactic atmosphere of the Atlantic and the hot plateau of the Duero River. The region’s soils,
planted primarily with Mencia, are rich in slate and granite, creating wines of rich, balanced fruit
and minerality.
Castilla-La Mancha
| Kast-Ee-Ya La Man-Cha |
DO La Mancha
| La Man-Cha |
— The largest demarcated region in Europe, this area consists of
an elevated plateau in the center of Spain that is hot and dry though cold in winter. Cencibel,
the local strain of Tempranillo, is widely grown here, as is Airen—the most widely planted
Spanish white variety—and the international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,
and Chardonnay.
VP Dominio de Valdepusa
| Dom-Een-Ee-Oh Deh Val-Deh-Poo-Za |
— The first estate to
receive the highest level in the Spanish classification system, Vino de Pago (VP), has been
in Marqués de Griñón Carlos Falcó’s family since 1292. Over 1700 acres large, Dominio de
Valdepusa contains only 123 acres of vineyards, with the rest of the land covered by local
almond, Arbequina and Picual olive trees and herbs that contribute to the complexity and
personality of the wines. Falcó pioneered the plantings of international varieties Syrah,
Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot in Spain during the 1970s.