D.O. La Mancha

Located south of the Castilian plateau, about 60 km. away from Madrid.

La Mancha is the largest winemaking region in the world (about 190,000 hectares) and the largest natural region of Spain, occupying an area of 30,700 km2, which represents half of the total of the four provinces that form it. The Regulation of the Designation of Origin "LA MANCHA accommodates a total of 182 municipalities: 12 in Albacete province, 58 in Ciudad Real, 66 in Cuenca and 46 in Toledo. Viticulture is also the main economic activity of the municipalities comprising the Denomination of Origin La Mancha.

GRAPES

White varieties: Airen, Viura and Macabeo, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Red varieties: Cencibel or Tempranillo, Garnacha, Moravia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

Although the majority is still Airén in the production area, the Cencibel or Tempranillo is the one that has grown most over the years due to the impressive restructuring of vineyards taking place in the region. Moreover, precisely because of restructuring being undertaken, other varieties have been planted in recent years spreading in the DO, such as Viura and Macabeo, the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, in white. In red, apart from Tempranillo, Garnacha and Moravia (located in some areas of Albacete and Cuenca) which have already established their presence, there are more and more prestigious varietal plantations of French Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

HISTORY

The origin of the wine of La Mancha dates to XII century during the "Reconquista". It appears that the name owes its origin to MANCHA the Arabic word "Mantxa" (dry land), although other scholars of language and the region believe that the name comes from the contraction of the phrase "wider". In the late 1970s, large companies bought land in the area and invested in new technologies for winemaking, which caused a revolution in the sector in this region. Also, a good number of small wineries were formed and cooperatives grouped.

More recently, in the last 10 years, the investment in improving infrastructure of wineries has exceeded to more than 360 million euros. Many of these wineries and cooperatives are immersed in a continuous process of modernization. Among other things, "El parque de Barricas" of the Designation of Origin "La Mancha" has had spectacular growth. Special mention requires investment in human capital is key in improving the wines from La Mancha. The incorporation of winemakers, chemists and other trained professionals has been a leap to quality.

DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN

Whereas the ancient tradition of wine cultivation in La Mancha, the Control Board began in 1973, creating the Denomination of Origin La Mancha and acquired a distinct identity, culminating in 1976 with the Ministerial Order approving the Regulations of the DO and its Regulatory Board - OM. 2-VI-1976. The Corporation for Public Law’s fundamental mission is the defense of the viticulture of the region of production by ensuring the quality and promotion of their wines.

The diversification of varieties produced has made red wine the most commercialized of the DO, altering the typical image of a white-producing area, now based on table wines, "mostos" and distillates. The white, rosé and young red wines elaborated through temperature control are fresh and fruity, which has made its consume increase in the recent years. The same has happened with the wines aged in oak, thanks to the addition of oak barrels used by most wineries. The wineries benefiting from this Denomination of Origin have been able to evolve quickly and in line with the markets demand. These wineries have made the production of its wines an art, a result of using the highest technological innovations.