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La Mancha is the largest delimited wine region not only in Spain, but in the whole of Europe. Occupying almost one half of the large Castilla-La Mancha region, the La Mancha viticultural area covers a vast expanse of the central Iberian plateau, and is bordered by Valencia and Murcia to the east, Extremadura to the west, Andalucia to the south and Madrid to the north-west. There are more than 500,000 acres (202,350ha) of vineyard here, spread over 182 municipalities and four provinces (Albacete, Cuenca, Ciudad Real and Toledo).

Not only one of Spain's largest wine regions, it is also one of the oldest. Winemaking is thought to have originated here in Roman times, and was certainly widespread during medieval times. Under Moorish rule between the 8th and 15th centuries, it was known as al-mansha, meaning "parched earth" – a fitting description for the arid countryside here.

La Mancha has an extreme continental climate. Summer daytime temperatures regularly exceed 104F (40C), but drop dramatically as darkness falls. Winters are cold, with sub-zero temperatures and frequent frosts. These dramatic climatic variations, along with low annual rainfall (on average 14in/350mm), create certain challenges for grape-growers.

The finest vineyard areas in La Mancha are those with high limestone and chalk content in the sub-soil. These semi-porous stones retain precious moisture and help to even out the vines' water supply. The plentiful sunshine (approximately 3000 hours a year) ripens La Mancha's grapes without difficulty, making excessive heat one of the region's key challenges. The high temperatures here are mitigated only slightly by the area's elevation of between 1600ft/490m and 2300ft/700m above sea level.

The most successful grape varieties in La Mancha are those hardy enough to withstand the harsh conditions. Airen is a local favorite, accounting for the bulk of production. At their best, wines made from this grape are fresh and dry, but they can easily become bland and characterless. Happily enough, this makes them ideal for distillation into brandy.

In spite of Airen's predominance, it is reds and rosés that are regarded as La Mancha's best wines. The reds range from easy-drinking and affordable styles to the more serious barrel-aged wines. Tempranillo (known locally as Cencibel) is by far the most popular red-wine variety, often accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Altogether, more than 25 grape varieties are permitted for use under the La Mancha DO laws, including traditional Spanish varieties such as Graciano, Bobal and Monastrell and international varieties Grenache, Syrah and Petit Verdot. The most popular white-wine grapes are Chardonnay, Viognier, Macabeo, Torrontes and Verdejo.

Long-term investment in modernization has been critical in improving La Mancha's bulk-wine image from the 1970s. More and more high-quality wines have emerged, so the region's prestige is slowly building.