Castilla y Leon Wine

Castilla y Leon, located north of Spain's capital, Madrid, occupies the northern half of the central Iberian plateau ('Meseta Central') and is the largest of the country's 17 autonomous communities. Because of its rich history, Castilla y Leon is home to six UNESCO world heritage sites. 

In winemaking terms, much of the land in Castilla y Leon is flat and mostly arid, with a poor soil structure. As a result, the vine roots must dig deep to gather vital nutrients. The Duero river, which runs through its winemaking areas, provides a much-needed water supply. The climate is heavily influenced by the Sistema Central and Cordillera Cantabrica mountain ranges. These produce rather harsh, almost continental effects, with dry hot summers followed by long, cold winters – conditions which impart plenty of character to Castilla y Leon wines.

The northern rain shadow cast by the Cordillera Cantabrica mitigates the cool maritime influence of the Atlantic Ocean and is most profound in the eastern DO (Denominacion de Origen) of Ribera del Duero, making it one of Spain's premier red wine areas. The Tempranillo grape (known locally as Tinta del Pais and Tinto Fino) produces some fine examples here. (© Proprietary Content, Wine-Searcher.) Toro, near the Portuguese border, is also renowned for its robust reds made from Tempranillo (Tinta de Toro). Castilla y Leon's famous whites, made mostly from Verdejo and Viura (Macabeo), come from the Rueda, while its fruity and refreshing rosé wines are produced in the Cigales DO.