Spain

Bierzo

 

Bierzo is a Spanish wine-growing region in the north-western region of Bierzo, province of León, and is located near the Portuguese border and the region of Galicia. Approximately 4,274 hectares of cultivated vineyards at altitudes between 450 and 1000 m above sea level. NN are located in an area near the river Sil and various side valleys to the community Cacabelos in the northwest of the province of León. Since 2000, around 6,500,000 bottles of wine have been produced each year.

The area is just a short distance from the appellation Valdeorras. The soils of the region are very different. In the valleys, near the rivers Sil and Burbia, the soil is moist, heavy and fertile. Further up, on the many relatively steep hills you will find mainly sandy, calcareous soils. In the northwest, near Villafranca del Bierzo and Corullón, it is a weathering slate on which the vines stand.

Principal cultivations are distributed among the 23 villages of Arganza, Bembibre, Borrenes, Cabañas Raras, Cacabelos, Camponaraya, Carracedelo, Carucedo, Castropodame, Congosto, Corullón, Cubillos del Sil, Fresnedo, Molinaseca, Noceda, Ponferrada, Priaranza, Puente Domingo Flórez, Sancedo, Toral de los Vados, Vega de Espinareda, Villadecanes and Villafranca del Bierzo.

A total of 45 bodegas market the wines while the vineyards are cultivated by more than 5,000 winegrowers. The lion's share of the wines are sold in Spain. Only 6% are destined for export.

Since June 1988, the area has the status of D.O. The regulations are generally closely monitored. In the 2003 vintage, almost 15% of the harvested quantity was not allowed for the appellation, in 2002 it was 43%.