Castilla y Leon information
Designation of Origin de Origen Cigales
The most important Red grapes: Tempranillo
Others Red grapes: Garnacha tinta and garnacha roja
White grapes: Albillo, Verdejo and Viura
Types of wines Rosé wines, young reds and Crianza reds
In the southern part of the district of Tierra de Campos, the
landscape is dominated by large stretches of vines and undulating
hills which extend to the banks of the river Pisuerga. On the
outskirts of Valladolid, we find the "Denominación de Origen
Cigales", which used to be famous for its "claretes"
and is known today for its modern rosé and red wines. Cigales
is the head of the district and the town which gives its name
to this Designation of Origin.
The jewel of Cigales wines is the red tempranillo grape variety.
This particular "cépage", along with other white grape
varieties, is the basis for producing modern rosé wines. But the
great discovery of this district, known historically for its clarete
wines, has been its reds. These wines have burst onto the market
in perfect harmony with current trends: wines with colour, strong
aromatic potential and tannic structure. The tempranillo grape
of Cigales is not grown far from the Duero region, indeed the
river Pisuerga flows into the Duero a few kilometres downstream.
Today, Cigales is establishing itself as an important region for
modern young rosé wines, as well as promising ventures into barrel-aged
reds.