- Almansa (DO)
The Almansa DO, known for its red wines, is located in the southeast of the province of
Albacete (Castile-La Mancha ,Spain ), in the transition zone between the high central plateau (La Mancha ) and theMediterranean Sea . The vineyards are mostly around the towns ofAlmansa ,Alpera ,Bonete ,Corral-Rubio ,Higueruela ,Hoya-Gonzalo ,Pétrola and El Villar de Chinchilla.History
During the
Middle Ages , Almansa was a frontier region betweenMoorish andChristian kingdoms.Almansa Castle ("Castillo de Almansa") was built by theMoors to protect theVinalopo Valley ("Valle de Vinalopó") which was for a long time the frontier between the Christian kingdoms of Castile andAragón .Climate
The climate is continental (long, hot summers, cold winters). Rainfall is sparse (350 mm per annum) and sporadic usually in spring and autumn in the form of violent storms, often in the form of hail. Temperatures can reach 38°C in summer and -6°C in winter.
oil
Most of the vineyards are on flat land at altitudes of between 700 and 1000 m above sea level, comprising permeable lime-bearing soils that are poor in nutrients.
Authorised Grape Varieties
Red:
Monastrell ,Cencibel (Tempranillo ),Garnacha Tintorera ,Cabernet Sauvignon ,Merlot ,Syrah White:Verdejo ,Chardonnay ,Sauvignon Blanc Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell are the most common varieties planted while Cencibel (Tempranillo) represents about 15%. The vines are planted with a maximum density of 1,600 vines/ha.
References
* http://www.winesfromspain.com
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