Denominacion de Origen
The Ribera del Júcar D.O. lies in the province of Cuenca, in Castilla-La Mancha. It comprises seven municipalities — Casas de Benítez, Casas de Fernando Alonso, Casas de Guijarro, Casas de Haro, El Picazo, Pozoamargo and Sisante — within a delimited zone of about 9,141 hectares. The vineyards sit on a high plateau with an average altitude of 750 metres, cut through by the canyon carved by the Júcar river. The soils are clay-limestone, covered with pebbles and gravel; land is more clayey and fertile to the north and east, stonier to the south and west. The river's proximity brings higher rainfall and less extreme temperatures than the surrounding plains of La Mancha, with marked day-night temperature swings in summer. The main authorised grape varieties are, for red wines, bobal, tempranillo (locally called cencibel), cabernet sauvignon and syrah, and for white wines, airén, macabeo (or viura) and verdejo. Vine growing in the area is documented as far back as the 17th century.
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Ribera del Júcar produces red, rosé and white wines, the reds marked by bobal alongside tempranillo (cencibel). Their colour ranges from cherry red to ruby red, with bluish and violet hues in young wines. The nose, marked by red fruit, gains complexity through oak ageing, taking on notes of spice, cocoa and toast in the crianza and reserva styles. On the palate they are gently tannic, smooth and deep, with a fine balance between acidity and tannin; young wines are best drunk on their fruit, while aged styles show ample body and a long finish suited to cellaring. The rosés are fresh and light, with clean primary aromas. The whites, made mainly from airén, macabeo and verdejo, are pale yellow, clean and fruity, with a good acid balance. Young reds pair with grilled meats and cured sausages, aged styles with game and mature cheeses, while whites and rosés suit fish and rice dishes.
Discovery
07 Sep 2026
Wine Terroirs
01 Sep 2026
Discovery
21 Aug 2026