Bierzo Travel Guide

The production region, the Lower Bierzo, is located in the northwestern part of the León province, on the natural border to Galicia. Bierzo got its official recognition as a wine producing area in 1985, at a time when its wines tended to be made from a combination of locally-grown grapes and wines from elsewhere. Obviously, the "elsewhere" wines had to go, and when it achieved the full D.O. status in 1989, the winemakers had already discovered the virtues of modern equipment. The production area amounts to about 5,500 hectares (21 square miles) although only 3,400 ha. (13 sq. mi.) are registered under the Denomination of Origin. The vine grows on the slopes formed by the mountains, which encircle the region, with its own moderate, humid microclimate, difficult to classify. The grape variety Mencía reigns supreme here where it occupies 62% of the vineyard and is the main red grape both here and over the border in Valdeorras. Other permitted red grape is garnacha, mainly used to help colour mencía wines. In the white arena, DO Bierzo allows for use of palomino (in decline and remnant of the old heavy-cropping days), doña blanca, malvasia and, as of late, stunning local godello. But more and more producers are introducing new not-yet permitted plantings of tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and gewürztraminer, which are proving to yield excellent results. Wines that use these varities do not bear for the time being, the Appellation's official seal.