Sierra de Salamanca
Styles
Principal grape varieties
ViuraMoscatel De Grano Menudo (Muscat A Petits Grains Blancs)Palomino (Palomino Fino)Garnacha TintaTempranillo
Terroir
Natural factors
- Metamorphic (west) and plutonic (east) rock formations; greenish-grey, lightly metamorphosed Cambrian argillaceous slates.
- Acidic soils, predominantly sandy loam texture; sandy silt in the northwest, silty in the south; uncommon soil types within Castilla y León.
- Temperate humid Mediterranean climate, annual rainfall exceeding 1,000 mm, which compensates for the soils' low water retention.
- Slate soils impart mineral notes and marked structure; granitic soils (silt and fine sand) contribute length and palate softness.
Human factors
- Viticulture resurges from the 11th century; wines from the area are cited by name from the 15th–16th centuries onward.
- 50% of vineyard plots are over 80 years old; the traditional 1.5×1.5 m spacing (4,400 vines/ha) hinders mechanisation and keeps yields low.
Product characteristics
- Reds show notes of red fruits, spices, and scrubland herbs; elegant, spicy tannins; whites are unctuous with white fruits and a mineral edge.
- High tartaric acidity and medium-to-high ageing potential; slate soils contribute pronounced minerality, granitic soils greater length and palate softness.
Terroir / wine link
- Slate soils → mineral notes and marked structure; granitic soils → greater length and palate softness.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the the specification.
Sources
- eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-ES-A0631
- Official trade body site — D.O.P. Sierra de Salamanca