DO La Manchuela strengthens its vocation as an exporter

30/09/2011

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It is one of the youngest appellations in Spain, yet in the space of just ten years, DO La Manchuela, located between the Castilla-La Mancha provinces of Cuenca and Albacete, now boasts one of the highest wine export figures targeted at international markets of any of the Spanish wine regions. The surprising sales growth registered by this winemaking region since its creation owes its success to the investment in technology carried out by its bodegas, the commitment to using native grape varieties such as Bobal and Cencibel, and the creation of top-of-the-range products at a competitive price capable of penetrating both traditional and emerging markets.

DO Manchuela is located in the southeast of the province of Cuenca and the northeast of Albacete, a transitional region between the plateau and the ‘Levante’ or eastern seaboard of Spain, which has enriched its human landscape and winemaking tradition. The River Cabriel to the north and the Júcar to the south, border a region where vine cultivation is incorporated within a landscape of contrasts, from imposing Medieval strongholds and the craggy backdrop of the ‘Reserva Natural Las Hoces del Cabriel’, to small caves for personal use and ‘jaraíces’ (winepresses) which are still kept in many homes in the region to make wine; La Manchuela brings together tradition with huge potential for wine tourism.

The valleys of the rivers Júcar and Cabriel which mark the boundaries of DO Manchuela give rise to a series of very specific climate and soil conditions for vine cultivation. The region’s continental climate is influenced by the moist winds of Levante, and the scare rainfall registered between the months of May and September, which together with the dramatic changes in day and night temperatures benefits optimum grape ripening. The region’s soil structure, a composition of clay with a chalk base, helps to conserve the rain water which falls in the period just before the grapes begin to grow.