Tierra del Vino facts for kids
Tierra del Vino (which means "Land of Wine") is a special area in Spain where certain wines are made. It's like a protected label that tells you where the wine comes from and how it's made. This region is found in the provinces of Zamora and Salamanca.
The "Tierra del Vino" area officially became a protected wine region on April 28, 2007. This means that wines from this specific place have to follow strict rules to use the "Tierra del Vino" name.
This wine region stretches along both sides of the Duero River as it flows through the province of Zamora. It's also crossed by an old Roman road called the Vía de la Plata. The entire area covers about 1,799 square kilometers. It includes 56 towns and villages, with 46 of them in Zamora and 10 in Salamanca.
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What is Tierra del Vino Like?
The "Tierra del Vino" region has a very dry climate, meaning it doesn't get much rain. The temperatures can be quite extreme. Winters are very cold, and summers are hot and dry.
In winter, the average temperature is usually around 3°C (about 37°F). But in summer, it can reach about 23°C (around 73°F). The land in this region is also quite high up, averaging about 750 meters (about 2,460 feet) above sea level.
The Soil and Rivers
Many rivers flow through the Tierra del Vino region. Because of these rivers, the soil here is mostly "alluvial." This means it was formed by water carrying and depositing sand, silt, and clay over a long time.
The top layer of soil is deep and lets water pass through easily. It's also very good at holding onto water, which is important for the grapevines. However, this soil doesn't have a lot of organic matter, which comes from decaying plants and animals.
Grapes and Wines of Tierra del Vino
The rules for "Tierra del Vino" wines say which types of grapes can be used. These grapes are carefully chosen to make sure the wines have a special taste that represents the region.
Main Grape Varieties
The most important grapes for Tierra del Vino wines are:
- For red wines: Tempranillo
- For white wines: Malvasía, a special kind of Moscatel called "fine grain Moscatel," and Verdejo.
Other Grape Varieties
Some other grapes are also allowed to be used in these wines, but they are not the main ones:
- Garnacha (a red grape)
- Albillo (a white grape)
- Palomino (a white grape, often used for Sherry)
