Valencia (DO)


Valencia is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida for wines located in the province of Valencia and is divided into two separate zones and four sub-zones each one of which produces a different type of wine.

History

Grape growing and wine production has been present in this area for thousands of years as attested by several archaeological finds, including Neolithic tombs containing remains of grapes.
The wine from Sagunto was mentioned in texts by Juvenal and Marcial in the 2nd century BC.
In the 13th century the valencian citizen Arnau de Vilanova wrote one of the first treatises on Spanish wine.

Sub-zones

Valentino

The Valentino sub-zone, located to the northwest, is the largest one and its vineyards slope gently upwards from the coastal plain towards the interior of the province. This sub-zone is in turn divided in three geographically distinct areas:
The Alto Turia sub-zone is located to the west of Valentino at a height of between 700 m and 1,100 m above sea level and is characterised by its sandy soils.

Moscatel

The Moscatel sub-zone is located at the western boundary of the city of Valencia and the vineyards rise from sea level to an altitude of 100 m.

Clariano

The Clariano sub-zone is to the south, further away from the other three sub-zones and close to the towns of Xàtiva and Gandia. It is geographically divided into two different areas:
In general, the subsoils vary from fluvial type at low altitudes, to lime bearing at the higher altitudes, and sandy type at the intermediate altitudes. They are generally soils from the Miocene and the Quaternary period, very permeable and therefore do not give rise to drainage problems.

Climate

The coastal vineyards have a Mediterranean climate but the majority which are further inland have a mild continental climate. Temperatures can vary up to 30°C on a daily basis. Maximum temperature in summer can reach over 40°C and in winter drop to -5°C.
Some areas are classified as arid or semi-arid, though violent storms are common in summer and autumn. Hailstones fall occasionally and strong winds can sometimes cause damage in the Cheste sub-zone.
Drought has always been a problem for grape growers, though today drip irrigation is permitted by the Regulatory Council of the DOP.

Grapes

is the most characteristic white variety in the area, though many different grape varieties are authorised in Valencia DOP:
Two different types of vineyards are present in the DOP depending on the climate. In the hot areas, the vines are planted as low bushes at a distance of 2.5 m from each other, as they are better protected from the heat if they are closer to the ground. In milder climates the vines tend to be planted on trellises.
The most common rootstock is the 41-B clone due to its high resistance to drought.
Vine planting density is low and ranges from a minimum of 1,600 vines/ha to 2,500 vines/ha.

Wines

Apart from the conventional wines made in a similar way to other wine producing regions, Valencia DOP has two unusual characteristics: