Vinos de Madrid
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Vinos de Madrid Denominación de Origen (DO) is located in the southern part of the province of Madrid (Spain). It covers 54 municipalities and is divided into 3 sub-zones (Arganda, Navalcarnero and San Martín) which each produce a different type of wine.
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[edit] History
The first documented evidence of wine production in the area dates from the 13th century in the form of some legal documents relating to a dispute over the ownership of a vineyard between some monks and a local feudal lord; however, the ancient Romans likely introduced vines in the area as they did throughout the rest of the Iberian peninsula.
Vinos de Madrid acquired its DO status in 1990.
[edit] Geography and Soils
The three sub-zones are all at a height of between 500 and 800 m above sea level. Arganda is the largest sub-zone containing about 50% of the vines and comprising 26 municipalities. The soil here contains mainly clay and lime over a granite subsoil. To the southwest, close to the Sierra de Gredos range, is the San Martín sub-zone which contains 35% of the vines, and even further to the southwest is the Navalcarnero sub-zone with 15% of the vines. Rich dark soils are more abundant in San Martín, while in Navalcarnero the soils lack carbonates, are low in nutrients, and lie over a clay subsoil.
[edit] Climate
The three sub-zones of Vinos de Madrid DO all have a continental climate (long, hot summers and cold winters) with extreme temperature variations over the course of the year (40°C in summer and -2°C in winter). Rainfall varies depending on the sub-zone but in general it is sparse and falls mainly in spring and autumn. San Martin gets the most rainfall (650 mm/year) due to the influence of the mountains, while Navalcarnero gets just over 500 mm/year and Arganda just 450 mm/year. The risk of hailstones exists every year till around April.
[edit] Authorised Grape Varieties
- Arganda Subzone:
- San Martín Subzone:
- Authorised red: Garnacha (recommended), Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot and Syrah
- Authorised white: Albillo (recommended), Airén, Moscatel, Parellada, tornotes and Viura/Macabeo
- Navalcarnero Subzone:
- Authorised red: Garnacha (recommended), Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot and Syrah
- Authorised white: Malvar (recommended), Airén, Albillo, Moscatel, Parellada, Torontés, and Viura/Macabeo