Abona (DO)

Abona "Denominación de Origen (DO)" is located on the southern coastline of Tenerife, (Canary Islands, Spain), and acquired its DO in 1996.

Geography

The vineyards are planted at altitudes of between 200 m and 1,800 m on the slopes of the Teide, an extinct volcano and the highest mountain in Spain at 3,715 m.

oils

The soils on the lower slopes contain clay along with limestone and marl.

Climate

Due to the height of the Teide mountain, there are numerous microclimates within the characteristic subtropical climate of the Canary islands. At sea level, the climate is hot and subtropical, very sunny with sporadic rainfall. Between 550 m and 1,200, at cloud level, the humidity is higher, rainfall more frequent and the temperatures are lower. Above the cloud level, the climate is much drier, greater contrast between night and day temperatures, snow is normal and minimum temperature can fall to -5ºC.

Grapes

The preferred authorized varieties are as follows:
*Red varieties: Bastardo, Malvasía rosada, Tintilla and Vijariego
*White varieities: Bastardo, Forastera, Listán blanco and Pedro Ximénez

Also authorized:
*Red varieties: Negramoll and Moscatel negro
*White varieties: Verdello, Gual, Bermejuela and Moscatel

Traditionally the vines were planted as low bushes ("en vaso") though newly planted vineyards tend to be on trellises ("en espaldera").

References

*http://www.winesfromspain.com (English and Spanish)