Toro (DO) facts for kids
| Wine region | |
Toro DOP in the province of Zamora in the region of Castile and León
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| Official name | D.O. Toro |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1987 |
| Country | Spain |
| Size of planted vineyards | 5,851 hectares (14,458 acres) |
| No. of wineries | 63 |
| Wine produced | 33,513 hectolitres |
| Comments | Data for 2016 / 2017 |
Toro is a special area in Spain where certain wines are made. It's called a "Denominación de Origen Protegida" (DOP), which means "Protected Designation of Origin." This helps make sure the wines from Toro are always high quality and made in a specific way.
Toro is located in the northwest of Spain, in a region called Castile and León. The area that makes up the Toro DOP is in the southeastern part of the Zamora province. It includes lands known as Tierra del Vino, Valle del Guareña, and Tierra de Toro. About 5,500 hectares (or 13,590 acres) of vineyards are part of this special wine region.
Contents
History of Toro Wines
People have been making wine in Toro for a very long time. It started around the end of the 1st century BC. This was when the ancient Greeks shared their winemaking skills with the local Celtic tribes.
During the Early Middle Ages, wines from Toro were some of the first to be traded. They were sold along the Duero River. King Alfonso IX even gave land to religious groups. He asked them to plant more grapevines. Many of the 40 churches in Toro today were built because of the money made from selling wine.
Toro's wines became very famous. They were sold in cities like Seville and Palencia. Back then, winemakers built special underground cellars called bodegas. This helped them keep the wine at the right temperature. It also helped them make better quality wines.
In the late 1800s, a disease called phylloxera attacked grapevines in France. It didn't affect the vines in Toro because of the sandy soil. So, a lot of wine was sent from Toro to France. Because of this, Toro still has many very old vineyards. Some of these vines are even older than the phylloxera crisis. They are used today to make special wines.
The Toro DOP was officially created in 1987. Today, it is one of Spain's most important wine regions.
What's the Weather Like?
The Toro DOP has a very strong continental climate. This means it has long, hot summers and cold winters. The weather can change a lot. Temperatures can go from -11°C (12°F) in winter to 37°C (99°F) in summer.
It doesn't rain much in Toro. The area gets only about 350-400 mm (14-16 inches) of rain each year. But it gets a lot of sunshine! There are about 2,600 hours of sunlight every year. Sometimes it can even reach 3,000 hours.
The Soil and Land
The soil in Toro is made of sand, clay, and a type of rock called puddingstone. This mix creates a dark topsoil. It has both fine and coarse sand.
The vineyards are located on land that is quite high up. They are between 620 meters (2,034 feet) and 750 meters (2,460 feet) above sea level. This high altitude also helps the grapes grow well.
Types of Grapes Grown
Only certain types of grapes are allowed to be grown for Toro wines.
- Red grapes:
- Tinta de Toro (This is the main red grape)
- Garnacha
- White grapes:
- Verdejo
- Malvasía Castellana
- Albillo Real
- Moscatel de Grano Menudo
Different Kinds of Wine
Toro produces several types of wines, mainly red, but also rosé and white.
- Red wines: Most red wines from Toro are made using 100% Tinta de Toro grapes.
- Young red: These wines are meant to be enjoyed soon after they are made, usually within the same year.
- Roble: This is a young red wine that has been aged for three to six months. It spends this time in oak barrels. Sometimes, it can also have some Garnacha grapes mixed in.
- Crianza: These wines are aged for at least two years. At least six months of that time is spent in oak barrels.
- Reserva: These wines are aged for at least three years. One full year of this aging must be in oak barrels.
- Gran Reserva: These are the oldest red wines. They are aged for at least five years. Two of those years must be spent in oak barrels.
- Rosé wines: These pink wines are made from a mix of grapes. They use 50% Tinta de Toro grapes and 50% Garnacha grapes.
- White wines: Toro's white wines are made from just one type of grape. They are either 100% Verdejo or 100% Malvasía grapes.
Find Out More
In Spanish: Toro (vino) para niños
- Spanish wine
- Cuisine of the province of Valladolid
