Castile and Leon, or Castilla y León as it is known in Spanish, forms the northern part of Spain's central plateau with the Spanish capital to the south. Castilla y León is home to several wine-producing regions, including already very well-known ones such as Ribera del Duero, Toro and Rueda (all with separate entries) and still emerging ones such as Cigales and Bierzo. The wines of those vineyards that are not located in these areas have the denomination of provenance "Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon".
The northern part of the plateau is a land of extremes as far as viticulture is concerned. Enclosed by mountains, summers are short and hot, winters long and very cold. Temperatures can drop as low as -10 degrees in those vineyards located at 800 to 1000 meters above sea level. The diurnal variations are just as extreme.
Nevertheless, in recent years some winemakers and dedicated newcomers have risen to these challenges and produced some highly remarkable wines outside the established regions, mostly based on Tinto Fino, a variant of Tempranillo. But Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah are also grown. The hot climate is less suitable for white wines.
Cigales, in the somewhat cooler north of the region, is now known for excellent rosé wines, but the red wines are also impressive. Even further north, on the border with Galicia, lies Bierzo, and here reigns the grape variety Mencia, perhaps a coming star of tomorrow, because the wines can turn out very remarkable and are slightly reminiscent of a very well made Cabernet Franc.
