Valdepeñas DO
[bahl-deh-PEH-nyahss]
A large DO located south of Madrid in the southern part of Spain’s CASTILLA-LA MANCHA region. The Valdepeñas DO, which is named after the town of the same name, is almost fully surrounded by the huge LA MANCHA DO. Traditionally, Valdepeñas (“valley of stones”) is best known for a wine that’s been made here for centuries—clarete, a light red wine made from both red (Cencibel or TEMPRANILLO) grapes and white (AIRÉN) grapes. Even though Airén grapes are planted in more than 80 percent of the vineyards, the red claretes make up the majority of Valdepeñas production. That’s because the DO requirements state that the minimum amount of Cencibel to be used is 20 percent, which means that Airén could comprise up to 80 percent of the blend. This ratio produces wines that are light in both color and flavor. Nonetheless, red Valdepeñas wines are popular throughout Spain. The region’s best wines have very high percentages of Cencibel, and more producers are making red wines solely from Cencibel in CRIANZA, RESERVA, and GRAN RESERVA styles using American OAK. Authorities are now requiring that any new vineyard planting consist only of red Cencibel grapevines. These moves are helping to improve Valdepeñas wine in both quality and image.
Related Links:
DO, Castilla-La Mancha, crianza, reserva, gran reserva
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.
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