Almendralejo (Extremadura)

Almendralejo (Extremadura)

Max. Summer temp. : 40 ºC
Min. Winter temp.: 5 ºC
Average rainfall: 400-500 mm annually

Ribera del Guadiana DO

Extremadura's first DO takes its name from the river that runs east to west through its vineyards. The DO Ribera del Guadiana groups six sub-zones distributed between the region’s two provinces: Badajoz to the south, and Cáceres to the north.

Today the area shows evidences of a decisive belief in the modernisation of viticulture and oenology. At the same time each producer continues to preserve his or her own style. As a result, there has been an exceptional improvement in both the red and white wines made here.

The largest sub-zone is Tierra de Barros, which achieved a certain fame exporting wines in the Vino de la Tierra category. The DO continues to encourage new working methods such as the renewal of varieties, the updating of harvesting methods and the modernisation of the facilities needed to handle the increase in the number of barrels produced.

Thanks to all these factors, this region's image as a producer of wines with a high alcohol content and little structure has been overtaken. Today, the emphasis is on greater fruitiness in the young wines and good wood blending in its aged wines.


Regulatory Council

Consejo Regulador DO Ribera del Guadiana
Avda. Presidente Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra s/n Aptdo 299
06200 Almendralejo
Badajoz
Tel.: +34 924 671 302
info@riberadelguadiana.eu
www.riberadelguadiana.eu

Vineyards
Area under vine
33,281 ha.
Altitude of vineyards
209-1,087 m.
Soil types
Depends on the subzone. Mostly brown and slightly acid soils. Clay has good water retention as well as a considerable amount of limestone.
Principal grapes (w)
Alarije, Borba, Cayetana Blanca, Pardina, Viura, Chardonnay, Chelva (Montúa), Eva (Beba de los Santos), Malvar, Parellada, Pedro Ximénez, Verdejo, Cigüente, Moscatel de Alejandria, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Perruno and Sauvignon Blanc.
Principal grapes (r)
Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Bobal, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Graciano, Mazuela, Merlot, Monastrell, Syrah, Garnacha Tintorera, Jaén Tinto and Pinot Noir.
Production:
Maximum crop
10,000 kg/ha white; 8,000 kg/ha red
Yield
70 %
Production 2013
54,297 hl
Production 2014
100,073 hl
Production 2015
62,906 hl