Castilla-La Mancha is a large region which lies south and east of the Spanish capital Madrid. Although famous for its Manchego cheese and Don Quixote, Castilla-La Mancha also has a deep cultural history here; scattered throughout the region are various World Heritage sites, including medieval castles, Stone Age rock paintings, and the historic cities of Toledo and Cuenca.
'Harsh' is the best way to sum up the vine-growing conditions in, hot, dry Castilla-La Mancha. Despite this, the region has traditionally been known as a source of low-quality bulk wine; more than half of Spain's grapes are grown here. In recent decades however (and particularly since 1986, when Spain joined the European Union), a winemaking revolution has begun to transform this image of Castilla-La Mancha's wines.
Both large producers and single estates now employ modern winemaking technologies, combined with a judicious selection of grape varieties and barrel maturation techniques. That said, a significant proportion of the region's annual production, including grapes used for distillation into brandy, still goes into the inexpensive mass-produced sector.
The climate here has a strong continental influence – demonstrated by marked temperature variation, both from day to night and between seasons. In summer, temperatures can reach 104F (40C), and during the long, cold winters, they drop below freezing. The altitude of the vineyards – between 1650ft and 2300ft (500–700m) – does not compensate for these conditions, as the vines still have to survive the searing heat and a lack of moisture during the growing season. The westward-flowing Tagus, Guadiana and Guadalquivir rivers provide crucial water to the region, as do the Júcar and Segura rivers that drain into the Mediterranean Sea, although only the deepest river beds survive the summer.
As a result, only grape varieties which can tolerate such harsh conditions were traditionally planted. Airen tops the list and is still the most commonly planted grape in Castilla-La Mancha (and indeed all of Spain). However, it is not a particularly respected variety, so many producers have broadened their portfolios by planting Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Alicante Bouschet (known here as Garnacha Tintorera), Monastrell, Syrah and Bobal. Most of these grapes are used for the production of red blends suited to barrel maturation, although varietal wines are increasingly being produced.
Castilla-La Mancha is home to nine DOs, including Europe's largest officially delimited wine zone, La Mancha. It is also blessed with no fewer than eight Vino de Pago estates (see Spanish Wine Label Information), most notably the very first Vino de Pago, the Dominio de Valdepusa.
