Toro

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• Vineyards between 620 m and 840 m elevation; highest altitudes in the southwest, with a basic pH of ~8 compared to 6–7 in the rest of the appellation.
• Brown calcareous soils over Pliocene sediments (sandstones, clays, puddingstones) and Miocene materials; loamy-sandy texture, organic matter < 1%.
• Soils rich in iron (the sole notable trace element), a factor the pliego de condiciones directly links to the high colouring matter content of the wines.
• Extreme continental climate with Atlantic influences and a semi-arid character: rainfall 350–400 mm, frequent spring frosts.
• Gently rolling topography articulated by the Duero, its tributary the Talanda, and the Guareña and Hornija rivers, which form valleys and terraces.

• Tinta de Toro has documented references dating back to the sixth century and is traditionally planted in gravelly terrain with a clay subsoil.
• More than 50% of the vineyard is over 40 years old; quincunx planting patterns persist in the oldest parcels.

• Red wines are more structured, with a greater polyphenolic and tannic component, lower acidity, higher pH, and riper fruit character.
• The high iron content of the soil and the age of the vines together account for the exceptionally high concentration of colouring matter in the wines.

• Iron-rich soils + old vines → Toro wines with a high concentration of colouring matter.

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-A0886
• Official trade body site — D.O. Toro