Norte de Almería

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The district is located in the geotectonic unit of the Sierra Subbética, between parallels 37º 28' N and 37º 55' N, with altitudes ranging from 640 to 2,045 metres.
• These are high plateaus isolated by the Sierra de Orce, María, Las Estancias and Sierra Larga mountain ranges, so viticulture takes place on high ground, and given the ruggedness of the terrain some plantings are located on steep slopes and even on terraces.
• The climate is defined as Mediterranean of high-altitude zones, with a dry summer of high daytime and low night-time temperatures, and a somewhat more humid winter with low temperatures and frequent snowfalls.
• During July, August and the first half of September there is a marked contrast between night-time and daytime temperatures, which favours optimal ripening of the grape.
• The district's soils are young, heavily eroded and at an early stage of development, with very shallow depth and low fertility, which limits the yields of the plantings.
• The geographical area covers 114,158 hectares and lies entirely within the province of Almería, bordering the province of Murcia to the north and east and the province of Granada to the west. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The district has a long winegrowing tradition, and at the start of the 20th century most farms with vineyard plantings had their own winery.
• The harvest is later than in other areas, beginning in late September in the lower-altitude zones and continuing until late October or early November in the highest ones.

• The red wines show a very intense dark red colour through to ruby, with good colour parameters that remain stable over time.
• The wines show alcoholic strengths of between 13º-14º in reds and 12º in whites and rosés, together with a marked acidity in balance with the alcohol level and glycerine.

• The daily and nightly temperature swings and the low yields per hectare account for a deep, stable colour and considerable alcoholic strengths with great unctuousness, balanced by a high acidity due to the altitude of the vineyards.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the specification (pliego de condiciones).

All appellations in Spain

Sources

• National pliego de condiciones (PDF)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PGI-ES-A1412
• Official trade body site — JdA — IGP Norte de Almería