La Mancha

Set in the very heart of the Iberian Peninsula, Castilla La Mancha is home to the most fearless and famous knight: Don Quixote de la Mancha, the chief ambassador for an unknown land, a land that conceals surprises in every corner, mountain, valley and plain.
This vast region occupies the Southern section of the tableland with a surface area of 79,226 square kilometres, making it the third largest region in Spain.
Despite the fact that this land was only considered to be a place for passing through, it has always been inhabited to a certain extent, as evidenced by the many vestiges of settlements of different cultures, comprising a rich historic and artistic heritage that has not yet been completely discovered.

Its more than one million seven hundred thousand inhabitants are spread out over five provinces: Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo. The distribution of the towns and villages is highly diverse, with smaller and more numerous settlements in the north and less numerous but larger settlements in the south. This is a consequence of the repopulation method followed during the Reconquest, a historical era that has left a strong mark on the territory.

In addition, historical developments have left important evidence in the form of some magnificent historic – artistic complexes, some of which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: such as the multi-cultural Toledo and the magical Cuenca.
Even so, there are many other towns that also have some strong points of interest, such as Almagro, Villanueva de los Infantes, Molina de Aragón, Campo de Criptana and many other spots and places that offer travellers a place to rest mind and soul, closely watched over by Sancho, the best squire ever to be known, whose spirit still roams these lands, accompanying his master.

In 1973, the Control Board created the LA MANCHA Designation of Origin.

Located on the Central Meseta or tableland of the Iberian Peninsula, La Mancha encompasses 182 municipalities of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo. This area has an extreme continental climate, with considerable temperature changes and variable rainfall, making it an ideal place for the optimum cultivation of vineyards.

The La Mancha D.O., located between the Autonomous Communities of Madrid and Andalusia, is the most extensive vine growing and wine producing region in the world. It encompasses 200,000 hectares of vineyards, pertaining to almost 22,000 vine growers and with more than 300 bodegas and cooperatives registered under the D.O.

The following grape varieties are permitted under the La Mancha D.O.:
· White grape varieties: Airén, Viura or Macabeo, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
· Red grape varieties: Cencibel or Tempranillo, Garnacha, Moravia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

The bodegas coming under this D.O. have known how to develop quickly and to adapt to consumer and market demands.

These bodegas have turned their winemaking into an art, supported by facilities equipped with the very latest technology so that the entire process can be performed with the greatest care. In turn, the bodegas are becoming increasingly successful at marketing the wines both nationally and internationally.

Over the last ten years, the international market has recorded a growth rate of 10% per annum, a factor that should be taken into account as this guarantees the presence of our wines in the high-consumption countries.