Bierzo (DO)
Bierzo is a Spanish wine region in the northwestern region of Bierzo, Leon province, and is situated close to the Portuguese border and the Galicia region. Around 4274 hectares under vines located at altitudes 450-1000 m located in an area near the river Sil and various side valleys to the community Cacabelos in the northwest of the province of León. Since 2000, approximately 6,500,000 bottles of wine are produced annually.
The area is not far from the appellation Valdeorras. The soils of the region are highly variable. In the valleys near the rivers Sil and Burbia, the soil is moist, heavy and fertile. Next up, the many relatively steep hills are found predominantly sandy, calcareous soils. In the northwest, near Villafranca del Bierzo and Corullón, however, it is a weathering slate on which are the branches.
Main areas are distributed among the 23 villages arganza, Bembibre, Borrenes, Cabañas Raras, Cacabelos Camponaraya, Carracedelo, Carucedo, Castropodame, Congosto, Corullón, Cubillos del Sil, Fresnedo, Molinaseca, Noceda, Ponferrada, Priaranza, Puente Domingo Flórez, Sancedo, Toral de los Vados, Vega de Espinareda, Villadecanes and Villafranca del Bierzo.
A total of 45 Bodegas market the wines are processed while the vineyards of over 5000 growers. The majority of wines sold in the Spanish domestic market. Only 6% are destined for export.
Since June 1988, the area has the status of a DO The rules will be strictly controlled in general. In the year 2003, nearly 15 % of the harvested amount was not approved for the appellation in 2002, at least 43%.
See also the article Viticulture in Spain.
The climate
In Bierzo a microclimate, resulting from the encounter of the northwestern maritime climate of Galicia and Asturias, to the continental climate of the Spanish Nordmeseta. That means there are at much sun is enough rain for agriculture, while the mountain ranges whose peaks reach 2,200 meters, cold winds away. Consequence of this is an excellent growth of fruit, vegetables and wine. The average annual temperature is 12.3 ° C and an average fall here about 720 mm of precipitation per year. The average sunshine duration is 2100-2200 hours / year.
The wines
Within the vineyard all wine types are permitted white wine plays a minor role here. The best results provides the Godello grape. It is, however, rarely found with a share of about 60 hectares under surface. Other white varieties are Doña Blanca, Palomino and Malvasia. The variety Doña Blanca is the most planted white variety.
The red wines are mainly made from the Mencia variety. Their share of the stocked area is 65%. It is partly blended with Garnacha, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. While the majority of the wineries still produce rustic wines, show some young winemakers in particular on the slate floors, the potential of the grape Mencia and the region.
However, neglecting the quality cultivation of rose wines.
The regulatory authority
Compliance with the production rules are monitored by the local regulator, the Regulatory Board.