DO Jumilla – The golden vines of Monastrell

LOCATION AND HISTORY

Paradoxically, the DO Jumilla involves six municipalities of Albacete (Albatana, Fuente-Álamo, Hellín, Montealegre del Castillo, Ontur, and Tobarra) and only one Murcian municipality (Jumilla) which receives it names for being the headquarters of the Regulatory Council. According to its history, it is probably the oldest vineyard settlement in Europe since they have found remains from the year 3000 A.C. This is why its trademark is Iberian gold earrings in the shape of a bunch of grapes. Its great moment of fame came in the 19^th century, as it was one of the few Spanish demarcations that were not affected by the phylloxera plague that struck the country.

SOILS

The soils of Jumilla are of grey-brown colour, brown calcareous, and lime. In general, they possess a large water capacity and average permeability, which enables it to survive the vineyard in conditions of prolonged drought and make the most of the water shortage which the zone has. With this in mind, they are also soils that are low in organic matter, whose structure does not allow the spreading of phylloxera.

CLIMATE

The climate of the region is typically continental, but is very influenced by the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea in the East, and the plateau of La Mancha in the West. In general, it is defined as bright and dry, with 3000 hours of sun a year and very little rainfall, leaving barely 300 litres per square metre yearly, although the rates are highly irregular.

TYPE OF GRAPE

The most important grape in the DO Jumilla is Monastrell, which is the third most grown grape in Spain. Red wines of an intense ruby colour can be obtained from this grape, which have a strong aroma. Other varieties are Garnacha, Garnacha tintorera, and Cencibel, used to make rosé. In terms of the white varieties, there are Airén, Pedro Ximénez, and Macabeo, amongst others.