Valdepeñas

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For the Tempranillo/Valdepenas grape, see Valdepenas (grape).

Coat of arms

Valdepeñas is a municipality in the Spanish province of Ciudad Real, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Valdepeñas is located in the Campo de Calatrava, an extensive plain north of the Sierra Morena, and lies on the left bank of Jabalón River, a tributary of the Guadiana. Valdepeñas is located at 38°46′00″N, 3°24′00″W^[1] and its population is 27,634.^[2] Its twin town is Cognac, France. Valdepeñas first appears in the record of Order of Calatrava in 1243; it was probably was founded by the queen Berenguela of Castile after the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. Remains of Bronze Age, Iberian, Roman, Visigothic, Muslim and Jewish cultures have been found in the city and surrounding area.

Church of the Assumption Valdepeñas Spain

The Gothic Church of the Assumption was originally a castle.

Valdepeñas has several museums of history, art and wine. It contains large distilleries, tanneries, flour mills, cooperages, and other factories, but its chief trade is in red wines. The city is famous for its wines and is the centre of a grape-growing district. Valdepeñas wines are among the most popular in Spain and recently in EU countries. There are hot mineral springs near the city. One of the city's famous sons is Bernardo de Balbuena, appointed Bishop of Puerto Rico in 1620, who wrote Baroque poetry extolling the beauties of Mexico.