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La Mancha Wine Regions Guide

La Mancha: From Arid Plains to Wine Oasis, Unveiling a Premium Revolution!

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Last updated: August 15, 2024

Introduction

The barren, arid plains of Castilla-La Mancha hold a secret. But it’s not what you might think: there is a longstanding tradition of producing wine here, despite the lack of rainfall. Indeed, La Mancha is Spain’s largest wine-producing area; in fact, it is the largest continuous wine-producing area in the world, with over 450,000 hectares under vine. Moreover, the key appellation (La Mancha DO) accounts for almost half of all vines grown in Spain and produces half of all Spanish wines; the local industry historically focused on bulk production and gigantic volumes sold by discounters worldwide.

However, an emerging generation grew tired of this paradigm in the early 21st century. With fierce competition from the New World and a shrinking global market for cheap dross, progressive wine estates shifted their focus to premium labels. Investing in better viticulture and sophisticated winemaking equipment, they engineered a quality revolution in the former stomping ground of El Cid. Today there are some inspiring examples of site-specific and terroir-driven wines being made south of Madrid. Thanks to the ingenuity of men like Elías López Montero, La Mancha has been granted a rebirth.

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James lawrence

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