Castilla-La-Mancha Flashcards
What are the two main DOs of Castilla-La-Mancha?
- La Mancha
- Valdepeñas
How many ha are included in DO La Mancha?
158,000, making it the biggest DO in Spain, and largest PDO in Europe
All of Castilla-La-Mancha is located on what?
Spain’s meseta, or the plateau
What is the climate of La Mancha?
Continental, with very hot summers (highs of 45°C/113°F) and very cold winters (lows of -20°C/-4°F)
How much rain does La Mancha usually receive in a year?
300-400mm (12-16inches)
What two factors help mitigate the low rainfalls in La Mancha
- The limestone and chalk soils can help with water retention
- Drip irrigation
What is the difference in planting densities for irrigated vineyards versus non-irrigated vineyards in La Mancha?
1,000 vines per ha for non-irrigated vs 3,000 per ha for irrigated
What are some of the other differences for irrigated versus non-irrigated vineyards in La Mancha
- Non-irrigated vineyards are usually bush vines
- Irrigated vineyards are trellised
What are the two most planted grape varieties planted in La Mancha
- Airen
- Cencibel
What is another name for Cencibel?
Tempranillo
Where does most of the Airen produced in La Mancha go?
It is transported south and distilled into Brandy de Jerez
How many growers and producers can be found in La Mancha?
- 15,000 growers
- 250 producers
What is the name of the largest cooperative in La Mancha?
Virgen de las Viñas, with 2,000 members farming over 20,000 ha.
- Virgen de las Viñas is also the largest Co-op in all of Spain
Valdepeñas is known for a source of red wines made from what grape?
Cencibel
What are Vino de Pagos?
They are a handful of single estates with very high reputations
