La Mancha Wine Regions Guide

Geography and terroir

It is easy to see why Cervantes selected La Mancha as the setting for his magnum opus. The landscape is hauntingly beautiful: an undulating plateau covered in olive groves and vines, stretching to a horizon that seems unreachable. Mercifully punctuated by the Guadiana River that flows through the region’s center, the climate is nonetheless one of the most extreme in Spain; winter temperatures can hit 10°F in January, while summer peaks at 113°F in July and August. As a result, drought is a common problem, and irrigation is essential in many of the region’s subzones to allow the vines to thrive. Under these difficult conditions, it is unsurprising that so many growers were content to produce overripe, coarse wines for blending and early consumption. As with many of Spain’s emerging wine regions, things are beginning to change.

Indeed, winegrowers have several natural advantages at their disposal. La Mancha has some very high-quality soils: the reddish-brown calcareous terroir of the meseta is rich in lime and chalk. Moreover, it is a porous soil that helps to retain vital moisture during the summer growing season. In addition, site elevation can rise to greater than 750 meters above sea level in certain DOs (appellations), encouraging diurnal temperature variation. This refers to a significant temperature difference between day and night – vitally important in hot climate regions such as central Spain. It is one of the reasons why the best wines of this expansive region showcase freshness and concentration; lower temperatures at night slow down the vine’s metabolism, helping to preserve acidity in the grapes.

Winemaking and regional classifications

Regarding volume, La Mancha DO is the region’s most important producer, with some 160,000 hectares under vine. Over 22,000 growers and approximately 250 wineries live in this fierce climate, characterized by extreme temperatures in June, July, and August. The soils, meanwhile, are generally homogeneous: sandy clay covers the plateau. The most planted varieties are Airén – the most widely planted grape in the world! – and Grenache. If carefully vinified, the latter can yield wines of real class in this baking hot climate. The investments of recent years are starting to produce results, and well-balanced, oak-aged red wines emanate from this once-drab appellation. Nevertheless, Airén is still vitally important to the local economy, used for distillation and to make grape concentrate.

To the south of the La Mancha DO, we find the Valdepeñas appellation in the province of Ciudad Real. It is located within the La Mancha boundary, yet its quality can be considerably higher. The dry soils encourage low productivity, and the climate ensures that ripeness is rarely an issue! International varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, are gaining prominence. The local grape Cencibel – Tempranillo to the Riojans – is also prevalent and makes soft, fruity reds in the right hands.

Further east is the sub-region of Almansa, the closest in the area to the Valencia border. The predominant grape varieties are the red Monastrell and Grenache and the little-known white Merseguera. Despite the region’s proximity to the Mediterranean coast, the climate here is resolutely harsh, characterized by the extremes of temperature across Castilla La Mancha. However, exploiting higher altitude sites around 700 meters above sea level has allowed for better-balanced and lighter wines. Some of the old vine Grenache plantings yield wines of real character: intense, spicy, deep reds that are making a name for themselves in markets outside Spain.

Almansa’s neighbor is the larger region of Manchuela, which benefits from the fresh Mediterranean winds that help moderate the similarly harsh climate of the southern Meseta. With significant limestone deposits, this high plateau was brought to international fame by the winemaker Finca Sandoval’s blend of Syrah with Monastrell. A wine that won critical appraisal and now sells out quickly after release. Some of the area’s finest, full-bodied reds are produced from this sub-zone. The poor soils and cooler mesoclimate result in powerful, structured wines from Bobal, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and even Merlot!

Due west of Manchuela is the Ribera del Jucar DO, named after the river that runs through the sub-region. It is one of the youngest appellations in Spain, granted DO status in 2003. The vineyards (over 9000 hectares) lie on a plateau that enjoys less extreme temperatures than some of its neighbors, with summer temperatures averaging 77°F. Only red varieties are planted here, with Tempranillo, Grenache, Syrah, and Bobal being the most common; a good hunting ground for lighter reds of real substance, often at very reasonable prices!

The DOs of Mentrida and Mondejar are between here and Madrid and the single-vineyard appellation – Dominio de Valdepusa. The former two have been ripe for transformation for years, and certainly, in Mentrida, this seems to be finally happening. Mondejar wines are generally thick and slightly rustic – with some exceptions – and are produced from Cencibel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viura, Malvasia, and Torrontes. In contrast, Mentrida’s wines show real promise: powerful but balanced reds from mainly Tempranillo and old-vine Grenache. The quality has risen considerably over the past decade due to new money and ideas being put to great use. There are also some surprisingly soft Cabernet Sauvignons making a name for themselves.

However, the most innovative vineyards are the Marques de Grinon’s at the first Denominacion de Origen Pago (DO Pago). This designation is reserved for single-estate wines of high quality, and the Dominio de Valdepusa near Toledo has established itself as one of the finest producers in the region. Forty-two hectares are planted with mainly international varieties – including Syrah and Petit Verdot – that give powerful, structured, long-lasting wines. Undeniable proof that this region can indeed produce fine wine!

The lowdown

Over the past decade, a monumental effort has been made to modernize the vineyards and wine cellars across the wider region. Cooler mesoclimates have been identified, leading to wines of better balance and finesse, and the sheer quality of some of the old bush vine Grenache is finally being harnessed. The best potential for quality reds is to the east of this great expanse nearer the Mediterranean coast, particularly the appellations of Manchuela and Almansa. However, improvements are being seen across the entire region, as winemakers are determined to bury the ‘cheap plonk’ epithet forever.

Yet, while the quality bar has been raised in all corners of La Mancha, one or two standout wines deserve a special mention. Bodegas Verum has caused a real stir in journalist circles, not least due to its bold reinvention of the much-maligned Airén grape. The wine is called Las Tinadas Airén de Pie Franco, made in the harsh environment of the central plain. Ordinarily, there is little to recommend in the torpid and neutral wines that Airén tends to yield in La Mancha, particularly if it is grown specifically for distillation. However, this beautiful white, based on very old bush vines, is a game changer. After Jancis Robinson MW tasted the 2018 vintage, she proclaimed the wine “even better than when I first tasted it in summer 2019. Clean as a whistle. Beautiful texture and just a hint of bite on the end.” Robinson isn’t being hyperbolic: this nuanced expression of the world’s most planted white grape confounds expectations. It has structure, depth, and endless finesse. It will change your perception of Airén in a manner scarcely conceivable in the 20th century.

The single-vineyard Grenache wines are worthy of similar praise. Verum, Ulterior Parcela No 6 Garnacha is one name to remember – based on old vines grown in a special climat (vineyard site) and matured in clay jars (tinajas) for about 12 months. It is a most seductive interpretation of the Garnacha grape: floral, high-toned, and very ethereal. “Completely belies its alcoholic strength. There’s a hint of white chocolate but masses of refreshing acidity. I’m tasting it straight from the fridge and it’s responding well,” observed Robinson MW of the 2017 vintage. She’s spot on.

Bodegas Verum represents the new face and future of winegrowing in Castilla-La Mancha. These vineyards south of Madrid have been making rapid progress in the early years of this century, and today a wide range of quality wine styles exist to rival the best from Spain’s varied wine regions. And although the country’s gourmets may still prefer the established pedigree of wines from Rioja, Priorat, and Ribera Del Duero, there is no longer any excuse for ignoring the diverse and often stylish wines from this up-and-coming region. Dip your toes into the vineyards of Don Quijote’s old stomping ground, and prepare to be amazed.

La Mancha gastronomy

As a rule, chefs and restaurateurs in Spain’s meseta don’t stand on ceremony. Indeed, avant-garde experimentation and molecular gastronomy have yet to take off in Castilla-La Mancha; residents are highly suspicious of faddy flavors and over-conceptualized cooking. Instead, you’ll be rewarded with generous portions of hearty cuisine: milk-fed lamb, rich casseroles, game, and the famous Manchego cheese. And the tapas, of course, are to die for.