Ribera del Andarax

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyards are situated in the west of the province of Almería, in the valleys of the Andarax and Nacimiento rivers, sheltered by the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra de Gádor.
• The vineyards are found at elevations ranging from 600 m to 1,100 m above sea level, while Wikipedia places the majority of the vineyards between 700 and 900 metres altitude.
• The slopes of the land on which the vineyards are planted range from 10 to 30%, which favours the exploitation of sunlight and soil drainage.
• The climate is Mediterranean-Continental, with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and low rainfall of around 500 mm annually.
• Soils range from calcareous and slate to clay-sand, with low fertility; Wikipedia describes soils of slate, clay, and sandstone in the viticultural zone.

• The winemaking tradition of the comarca dates back to the sixteenth century, as recorded in the Apeos land registers.
• The harvest is carried out by hand, allowing grapes to be picked at the optimum moment of ripeness, preventing damage to the fruit and keeping yields in check.

• The wines have a high content of polyphenols, specifically anthocyanins and tannins, as well as a high concentration of aromatic compounds.

• The deep, stable colour and high alcohol levels are balanced by elevated acidity resulting from the diurnal temperature variations characteristic of high-altitude vineyards and from the moderating effect on ripening of cool winds from the Mediterranean.

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-A1414
• Official trade body site — JdA — IGP Ribera del Andarax