Wines from Castile and León

What the Wines from Castile and León Hold for the Wine Lovers?

Castile and León (Castilla y León) is the largest autonomous Spanish community.

Occupying the north-western parts of the country, this region is not only big in size, but also is an important wine producer region of Spain. Castile and León also has 9 DO wine zones at present.

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The history of wine production in this region can be dated back to the Roman times although the wines of Castile and León started gaining importance only during the eleventh century.

Read more about what these wines are holding for all the wine lovers across the world: Wines from Castile and León

Red Wines Rule Castile and León

Castile and León is famous for its red wine range. Of all the red wine grapes that are being for the winemaking, Tempranillo has occupied the most significant spot.

In this region, Tempranillo is called by various names like:

Tinta del País
Tinto de Toro
Tinto Fino

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Tempranillo is continuing to be the secret of taste behind this region’s wines although Bierzo is being produced from another red variety called Mencía .

DOs of Castile and León

DO Arlanza

This region, which has its vineyards planted at around 2100 to 2600 feet above the sea level, is the home to most of the Castilian red wines.

With Tinta del País, Mencía, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albillo, and Viura as the permitted grape varieties, this region is producing the following wine types:

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Reds: 11% alcohol
Rosés: 10.5% alcohol
Whites

DO Arribes

This DO region with its deep valleys and the Duero River is producing the following wine types with Juan García, Rufete, Tempranillo, Mencía, Garnacha, Malvasía, Verdejo, and Albillo as the permitted grape varieties:

Crianza: Two years of aging
Joven
Rosés
Whites

DO El Bierzo

This DO region, which is present in the north-western part of León, is producing 6 different types of Castilian wines with the major grape varieties being Mencía, Doña Blanca, and Godello.

The major wines of this region are as follows:

Whites: 10 to 13% alcohol
Joven: 11 to 14% alcohol
Rosés: 11 to 14% alcohol
Crianza: Two years of aging
Reserva: Three years of aging

DO Cigales

This region, which got its DO status in the year 1991, has its vineyards planted at about 2500 feet above the sea level.

With the permitted grape varieties of Tinta del País, Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha gris, Verdejo, and Albillo, this region is producing the following wine types:

Crianza: Two years of aging and 12% alcohol
Reserva: Three years of aging and 12% alcohol
Gran Reserva: Five years of aging and 12% alcohol
Rosés: 11% alcohol

DO Ribera del Duero

Being one of the most famous wine tour destinations, this region is producing the following wine types with Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha Tinta, and Albillo as the accepted grape varieties:

Young reds: No aging
Crianza: Two years of aging
Reserva: Three years of aging
Gran Reserva: Five years of aging
Rosés: 11% alcohol

DO Rueda

In this region, the vineyards are planted at about 2300 to 2600 feet above the sea level to produce the following wines using Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Viura, Palomino Fino, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and Merlot as the permitted grape varieties:

Tinto Joven: No aging
Tinto Crianza: Two years of aging
Tinto Reserva: Three years of aging
Tinto Gran Reserva: Five years of aging
Rueda Rosé: 11% alcohol
Sparkling Rosé: 11.5% alcohol
Rueda Verdejo: 11.5% alcohol
Rueda: 11% alcohol
Rueda Sauvignon: 11% alcohol
Rueda Espumoso: 11.5% alcohol
Rueda Dorado: 15% alcohol

DO Toro

With the vineyards planted at about 1900 to 2500 feet above the sea level, this region is producing the following wine types with Tinta de Toro, Malvasía, Garnacha, and Verdejo as the accepted grape varieties:

Joven: No aging
Crianza: Two years of aging
Reserva: Three years of aging
Gran Reserva: Five years of aging
Whites: 11 to 13% alcohol
Rosés: 11 to 14% alcohol