After analyzing last month the Denominations of Origin from Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rueda and Cigales, now we review the characteristics of Bierzo, Arribes, Tierra de León, Arlanza and Tierra del vino de Zamora. With them we conclude our articles on wines from Castilla y León. A very extensive community that offers us excellent and varied wines.
Castilla y León Wines
Denomination of Origin Bierzo
La DO Bierzo was founded in 1989. It borders the provinces of Orense, Lugo and Asturias. It is located northwest of León and currently 3027 hectares of vineyards. Varieties of white grapes preferred are Godello and Doña Blanca and the authorized ones Palomino and Malvasía. In red varieties the preferred is Mencía and as authorized we have the Grenache.
Its climate is continental with oceanic influence. The natural barrier of Sierra of the Ancares that calms the momentum of the Atlantic storms. Its annual rainfall is 720 mm. Its soils are silty loam, moderately acid with an absence of carbonates. Typical of humid climates, hillside soils mix coarse elements, quartzites and slates. The altitude of the vineyard DO Bierzo it goes from 400 to 800 meters.
These Castilla y León wines they have their own personality. They are wines with terroir that tell us about a unique territory. White wines are made mainly with Godello and Doña Branca. The rosés, with 50% Mencía and a mixture of red or white grapes. Finally, red wines with a minimum of 50% Mencía.
The Crianza reds They have a minimum of 2 years of which the minimum is 6 months in oak barrels with a capacity of less than 330 liters. The reserve red wines They are a minimum of 3 years old. Of these, a minimum of 12 months in barrels with a capacity of less than 330 liters.
The red wines gran reserva they have a minimum aging of five years. With a minimum of 18 months in barrels with a capacity of less than 330 liters, the rest in the bottle. As regards the rosé and white wines They are six months in the barrel and 18 months in the bottle.
Denomination of Origin Arribes
Others Castilla y León wines are those of the DO Arribes, which was founded in 2007. It covers the southwest of Zamora with 14 municipalities and northwest of Salamanca with 22 municipalities. Its extension is only 750 hectares.
The preferred white grape varieties are Malmsey and those authorized on Verdejo and Albillo. In red varieties they are Juan García, Rufete and tempranillo and the authorized varieties are Mencía and Garnacha. Varieties are currently being recovered in this area such as the brunal, Little bastard in inks or the Cross setting in white varieties.
Its climatology is Mediterranean climate with Atlantic influence with dry, hot and sunny summers. Its vineyards are located between 120 and 810 meters of altitude. Its soils are shallow, sandy in texture and with loose granite and quartz stones and little presence of organic matter.
The slate in the soil acts as a thermoregulatory effect, accumulating heat during the day and releasing it at night. This favors the ripening of the grapes.
The white wines They are made with 60% Malvasía and have a graduation of 11,5º. The same graduation get the pink made from varieties with a minimum of 60% of Juan García, Rufete and Tempranillo. The red wines made from a minimum of 60% of preferred varieties. Its minimum graduation is 12,2º.
The Castilla y León wines obtained with the Juan García variety, they have a bright purple-red color. Its main characteristic resides in its complex and elegant aromatic range. It has fragrances of berries and very ripe fleshy fruits with striking spicy touches. Medium bodied, with more warmth than freshness and soft tannin. As a final result, they produce a balanced wine that is especially gifted for aging.
Denomination of Origin Tierra de León
This D.O de Castilla y León wines was founded in 2007 and covers an area of 1320 hectares of vineyards. Among the 68 municipalities of León and 19 of Valladolid that are part of it. The preferred red varieties are Prieto Picudo and Mencía and the authorized ones are Tempranillo and Garnacha. In the preferred white varieties they are Godello and Verdejo as well as those authorized Malvasía and Palomino.
Due to the high altitude of the plateau where they are located and the edge of the mountainous relief of the Cantabrian mountain range it has a strong continentality. Its altitude of an average of 900 meters and its rainfall is 500 mm.
Its soils settled on alluvial terraces have good drainage. Adequate capacity to retain water and ease of aeration. Also root penetration and shortage of organic matter.
The Land wines from León They must have a minimum of 50% preferred and the rest authorized. In pink a minimum of 60% preferred paints and the rest authorized inks as well as 60% preferred and authorized white.
En red wines must have a minimum 60% of Prieto Picudo and / or Mencía the rest authorized inks. Variety Prieto Weevil is easily distinguished by its tight cluster and pine nut-shaped berries and bluish-black skin. Its aromatic intensity is high, giving wines with aromas of berries, strawberries, blue flower backgrounds, ample and persistent tannins on the palate.
Designation of Origin Arlanza
DO Arlanza was founded in 2007. It has an area of 420 Ha and is located in the center of the province of Burgos. It is made up of 54 municipalities of Burgos and 13 of Palencia.
The preferred red varieties are the country's ink. The authorized varieties are Grenache, Mencía, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot. In the preferred white varieties it does not have and its authorized varieties are the Albillo and Viura.
The area has a extreme continental climate and a rainfall that ranges between 500 and 800 mm per year. They are made rosé wines from varieties inks and whites authorized with a minimum of 50% of Tinta del País. The red wines They are made with a minimum of 50% preferred variety and the rest authorized.
Denomination of Origin Tierra del vino de Zamora
Located in the southeast of Zamora, this is the last of the wines from Castilla y León. Founded in 2007, it has an area of 800 hectares of vineyards. It encompasses 46 municipalities of Zamora and ten of Salamanca.
The preferred red varieties are tempranillo, garnacha, cabernet Sauvignon. The preferred white varieties are Malvasía and Moscatel small grain and Verdejo the authorized ones are Albillo, Palomino and Godello.
The characteristics of the D.O sound extreme and arid continental climate with annual rainfall 400 mm. With an altitude of 750 meters, its soils are of a marked alluvial character, deep and poor in organic matter. Very permeable and with good retention capacity.
The white wines They are made from the admitted white varieties, with a minimum of 60% of the preferred white varieties. The clarets They are made from the varieties admitted. With a minimum of 30% of the variety Tempranillo and a maximum of 40% of the varieties classified as authorized.
The pink made from the varieties admitted, with a minimum of 60% of the variety Tempranillo and red wines made from the admitted red varieties. With a minimum of 75% of the Tempranillo variety. They may be subjected to aging processes.
