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El Hierro, the westernmost and smallest of the Canary Islands, has a long winemaking tradition. Formerly, it produced predominantly sweet wines, but today these account for only a small part of total production.
Phylloxera never got a foothold in the Canary Island vineyards, so many of the older varieties, such as Verijadiego and Bremajuelo, still survive . These are planted ungrafted to preserve all their natural richness.
El Hierro DO is unique in Spain: when it won Denomination of Origin status in 1994 it was comprised of only two bodegas. One of these is a cooperative that has controlled 95% of the total production of the island since its establishment in 1986. The total number of bodegas had increased to 7 by 2003.
The DO encompasses some 200-odd hectares of vineyards that produce primarily white wine grapes, generally for consumption as young, fresh wines . The rosés and reds have similar characteristics and are sold only locally, and even then irregularly.
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Fact file
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CRDO address:
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Oficinas de agricultura - C/ El Matorral s/n
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38911 Frontera El Hierro
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Santa Cruz de Tenerife
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Spain
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DO established
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13 May 1994
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Last updated
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-
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Telephone
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+34-922-556-064
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Fax
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+34-922-559-691
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E-mail
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doelhierro@hotmail.com
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Website
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www.elhierro.tv/crdo
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Vineyards:
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Subzones
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-
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Area under vine
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207 ha
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Area in full production
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207 ha
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Altitude of vineyards
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125-700 m
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Soil types
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Volcanic, sandy.
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Principal grapes (w)
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Vijariego Blanco, Bremajuelo, Baboso Blanco, Gual.
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Principal grapes (r)
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Listán Negro, Verijadiego Negro, Baboso Negro
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Permitted grapes (w)
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Malvasía, Verdello, Pedro Ximénez, Listan Blanco
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Permitted grapes (r)
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Negramoll
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Experimental grapes (w)
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-
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Experimental grapes (r)
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-
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Organic viticulture
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6 ha
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Climate:
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Max. summer temp.
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28º C
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Min. winter temp.
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18º C
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Average rainfall
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125-525 mm annually
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Average sunshine
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3,000 hours annually
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Production:
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Maximum crop
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2,500 kg/ha
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Yield
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72%
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Equivalent hl/ha
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18 hl/ha
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Production 2001
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1,800 hl
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Production 2002
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1,950 hl
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Production 2003
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2,200 hl
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Wine alcohol content:
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White
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min. 11º
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Pink
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min. 11º
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Red
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min. 12º
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Other
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sweets and liqueurs 15º
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Ageing in oak:
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Crianza
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6 months oak, 12 months bottle
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Reserva
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12 months oak, 12 months bottle
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Gran Reserva
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24 months oak, 36 months bottle
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Wineries:
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Number of Wineries
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9 (none exports)
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