wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.

Log in Become a Member

Regions

Comprehensive description of all European growing areas, their grape varieties, traditions and legal rules with maps.

Unfortunately there is no information about D.O. La Mancha available.
D.O. La Mancha

Description to D.O. La Mancha

The DO area of La Mancha in Spain is part of the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha (see there for its history). It comprises 182 municipalities in the four provinces of Albacete (19,036 ha), Ciudad Real (74,264 ha), Cuenca (31,249 ha) and Toledo (27,933 ha). The DO area of Valdepeñas, which is enclosed on three sides, is an enclave on the southern edge. The area used to be known primarily as a producer of mass-produced white wines for quick consumption. After the DO classification in 1976, great efforts were made to improve quality standards and, following EU entry in 1986, a third of the vineyards were grubbed up. In 2020, "La Mancha Excellent" was introduced as the highest quality level.

La Mancha - Logos

Climate & soils

The extreme, continental climate is characterised by large temperature fluctuations and highly variable rainfall throughout the year with an average of 300 to 400 mm annually. Summers are often extremely hot (up to 45 °Celsius) and dry, which is why fungal diseases such as powdery mildew are almost unknown. There are regular frosts in winter. For the most part, calcareous, nutrient-poor and often stony and gravelly clay soils with limestone and chalk veins in the subsoil predominate. The relatively flat land rises steadily from 480 metres in the north to 700 metres above sea level in the south.

Vineyards & grape varieties

The area under vines totals 152,482 hectares with 70% white wine grapes and 30% red wine grapes. The white wine variety Airén, which is also used to a large extent for the production of spirits, dominates with more than three quarters of the area. This is followed by the red wine varieties Tempranillo (here Cencibel), Macabeo (here Viura) and Syrah. The grape variety index 2022:

Grape variety

Colour

Synonyms

Hectare

Airén white Burra Blanca, Manchega, Valdepeñas 88.161
Tempranillo red Cencibel 29.161
Macabeo red Viura 7.848
Syrah red - 3.816
Verdejo white Albillo de Nava 3.508
Garnacha Tinta red Grenache Noir 3.470
Cabernet Sauvignon red - 3.294
Sauvignon Blanc white - 2.170
Chardonnay white - 1.976
Alicante Henri Bouschet red Garnacha Tintorera 1.826
Merlot red - 1.390
Muscat Blanc (Yellow Muscat) white Moscatel de Grano Menudo 1.202
Bobal red Tinto de Requena 963
Monastrell red Mataró 659
Petit Verdot red - 633
Marufo red Crujidera, Moravia Dulce 641
Pedro Ximénez white PX, Ximénez 314
Muscat d'Alexandrie white Moscatel de Alejandría 230
Graciano red Monastrell Menudo 214
Parellada white Montònero 185
Viognier white - 129
Cabernet Franc red - 111
Riesling white - 57
Gewürztraminer white - 23
Cot red Malbec 19
Mencía red Jaén, Jaén Tinto 2
Alarije white Aris, Torrontés 2
Pinot Noir red - 1

Production specifications

The "La Mancha" designation of origin has been protected since 1932, and the wine was classified as a DO in 1976. The "Consejo Regulador D.O. La Mancha" is responsible for the promotion, advertising, quality assurance and control through wine tasting. La Mancha". There are the following wine qualities and types:

  • Young wines (Vinos Jóvenes) - consumption up to 9 months after production
  • traditionally produced wines (Vinos Tradicionales) - ageing in tanks or clay jugs (Tinaja), mostly naturally sweet white dessert wines
  • Aged wines (Vinos Envejecidos en Barrica de Roble) - aged in barriques for at least 60 days
  • Crianza - aged for two years, one in barrique and one in bottle
  • Reserva - at least twelve months ageing in oak and two years in bottle
  • Gran Reserva - at least two years of ageing in oak and three years in bottle
  • Sparkling wines (Vinos de Aguja)
  • Sparkling wines (Vinos Espumosos) - traditional production, at least nine months in bottle
  • La Mancha Excellent - highest quality level with even stricter quality standards and traceability compared to DO

Producers

There are around 20,000 winegrowers (often only producing grapes) and around 280 bodegas. Around 200 wineries bottle their wines, 120 market them abroad and around 130 produce wines in barrels.

Logos: La Mancha Wines

In this section you will find
currently 165,225 Wines and 25,033 Producers, including 3,160 classified producers.
Rating system find+buy Tasting samples Editorial schedule

EVENTS NEAR YOU