S/East Spain - The Levant - Yecla

Answer 1

South-east coast, inland west of Alicante. Sandwiched between Alicante & Jumilla. 400-800m high.

• Limestone bedrock w subsoil high in carbonate content or sandy topsoil with clay.

• Mediterranean-continental with long, hot dry summers and mild winters.
• Very high summer temperatures (up to 39C) with low rainfall (300mm/yr). 3,000h sunlight/yr.

Answer 2

Reds

1. Monastrell – 85% of plantings
2. Buds & ripens late (-> warm climate)
3. Thrives in south facing slopes with shallow, water-retaining clay soils
4. Dark, full bodied wines w hi acidity, hi tannins, med+ to hi alcohol w fruity(bramble fruits) & meaty aromas that develop into leather, mushroom & spicy aromas with age

Others: Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot

Answer 3

whites:

1. Macabeo
2. Airen

Others: Malvasia, Chardonnay

Answer 4

• 20,000ha – DO since 75
• Some vines untouched by Phylloxera.
• Key hazards: hailstorms (autumn rains).

Winemaking / styles

• Carbonic maceration common for Joven wines.
• Predominantly reds from Monastrell. Only small amount of whites produced.

• Some Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva.

Production

• Only 3 producers bottle their wine. Quality driven by some producer including:

o_Bodegas Castano_ – 1m btls/ yr

• Adds Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo to the blend for better more ageworthy quality wines.