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Yecla, once a farming town and today a furniture-making centre, is surrounded by nearly 13,500 hectares of vineyards. Of these, one-third are classified for making DO wines.
The quiet, slow revolution, pioneered by small private wineries and cooperatives here in the mid-1980s , has allowed the area to start producing red wines made with temperature-controlled stainless steel equipment. Thanks to this special effort, those fortified wines of the past have now become much more balanced, and have gained enormously in aromatic complexity.
The low yields give concentrated wines with great potential. The number of vineyards registered with the Regulatory Council is steadily increasing, a clear indication of local producers’ interest in quality. Some wines have already won their place among the most prestigious in the Spanish winemaking world, and one of Spain's largest cooperatives is located here.
Although there are no subzones, the Campo Arriba district is outstanding for producing grapes with a higher extract than other DO areas.
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Fact file
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CRDO address:
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Francisco Antonio Jimenez, s/n.
Poligono Urbeyecla II
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30510 Yecla
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Murcia
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Spain
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DO established
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1972
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Last updated
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11 May 2002
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Telephone
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+34 968-792-352
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Fax
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+34 968-792-352
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E-mail
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info@yeclavino.com
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Website
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www.yeclavino.com
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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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6,950 ha
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Area in full production
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-
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Altitude of vineyards
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400-800 m
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Soil types
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Limestone, with deep grounds and good permeability
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Principal grapes (w)
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Airen, Merseguera, Macabeo, Malvasia, Chardonay
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Principal grapes (r)
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Monastrell, Garnacha tinta, Garnacha tintorera, Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah.
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Permitted grapes (w)
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Moscatel de grano menudo, Sauvignon Blanc
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Permitted grapes (r)
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Petit Verdot
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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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2000 ha
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Climate:
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Max. summer temp.
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40ºC
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Min. Winter temp.
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-5ºC
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Average rainfall
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300 mm annually
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Average sunshine
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3,000 horas annually
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Production:
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Maximum crop
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7,000 Kg/ha
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Yield
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74%
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Equivalent hl/ha
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52 hl/ha
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Production 2006 (hl)
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57,556
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Production 2007 (hl)
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75,924
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Production 2008 (hl)
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49,000
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Wine alcohol content:
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White
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10,5% abv.
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Rosé
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11% abv.
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Red
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11,5% abv.
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Other
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Sparkling: 11,5% abv.
Liquor15%-22% abv.
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Ageing in oak:
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Crianza
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6 months oak, 18 months bottle
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Reserva
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12 months oak, 24 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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11
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Total exports - 2006
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35,790 hl
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Total exports - 2007
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48,075 hl
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Total exports - 2008
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37,875 hl
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