UclÃ©s (DO)

The wine region with denomination of origin (DO) Uclés exists since April 2005 and is thus one of the youngest classified growing areas of Spain. The name derives from the village Uclés in the province of Cuenca. The definition of this area goes back to the initiative of eight wineries that wanted to market the potential of the region for the production of wines with a distinctive name.

Location

The D.O. Uclés is located in the southern part of the central Spanish plateau south-east of Madrid in the autonomous community of Castile -La Mancha. It includes, divided by the mountain range Sierra Altomira, 25 villages in the province of Cuenca in the east and three villages in the province of Toledo in the western part. Overall, an area of about 175,000 ha is defined; Wine, the conditions of D.O. Uclés met, but only grown to about 1,500 ha.

Climate

There is semi-arid, continental climate with very hot summers and very cold winters. The rainfall is about 500 mm / year, throughout the summer the dry season.

Ground

The geological conditions vary greatly within the region, but the wine generally soils with deep sandy or loamy structure also be used. In some river valleys and soil is used with Schwemmlandlehm.

Wine

For the production of wines with DO- Uclés status were originally only the red wine grape Tempranillo ( Cencibel ), Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah admitted.

With the new version of D.O. Statutes of September 2008 are allowed and the white varieties Chardonnay, Macabeo ( Viura ), Moscatel de grano menudo, Sauvignon Blanco and Verdejo.

For red wines, only grapes from vines that are at least six years old, are used. Also, apply, depending on the age of the vines, such income limitations. For white wines have the use of grape vines one year is possible.

The alcohol content in red wines must be at least 12 % by volume, for white wines 10% vol Since September 2009, is also the production of rosé wine with a minimum alcohol content of 11.5 % by volume and sparkling wines with at least 10 % by volume of alcohol allowed.