Wine tourism in D.O. Arlanza
The D.O. Arlanza is located in the central area of the province of Burgos and the south-eastern part of Palencia. The territorial demarcation is made up of 67 municipalities, of which 54 belong to the province of Burgos and 13 to that of Palencia. The wine-growing tradition in the region of the Ribera del Arlanza dates back to the 7th century, from which historical accounts are preserved. There are records of the existence of vineyards in the hands of the monasteries.
A unique region for unique wines
The geographical demarcation of the Arlanza is located in the central area of the province of Burgos. About 40 kilometres south of the capital. Situated in the middle and lower valley of the river Arlanza and its tributaries up to its confluence with the Pisuerga, and in the south-east of Palencia. The area is set between the Sierra de Covarrubias, to the east, and the Páramos del Cerrato, to the west. The northern and southern limits are set on the slopes of the river Arlanza.
The designation is made up of 67 population centres, of which 54 belong to the province of Burgos and 13 to that of Palencia. As for communication routes, the region is crossed from north to south by the N-I national road and from east to west by the N-622.
Within the area there are places of great cultural and tourist interest, such as: Lerma, Santo Domingo de Silos, Covarrubias, Santa Mª del Campo, Mahamud... There are also areas of great scenic beauty, such as the Sierra de Covarrubias and the Yecla gorge, for example.
The land and the climate
Vine cultivation in the Arlanza region has been carried out since the 10th century, when the monasteries of the area were the ones tasked with discovering the virtues of the region's grapes.
After 1,000 years those virtues remain intact, producing wines with perfect nuances and flavours.
Zones
An important characteristic is the altitude of its vineyards, which lie between 700 m and almost 1,200 m above sea level. This altitude notably conditions the development of the crop and the ripening of the grape, but at the same time gives a unique personality to the product obtained under these conditions.
Microclimates
The climate of the area under study is conditioned by its altitude above sea level, which ranges between 750 and 1,200 metres, and by the isolation offered by the mountains, which deprive it of maritime influence. As a result, it can be defined as having harsh, long winters, relatively mild summers, scarce rainfall and marked summer aridity; the continentality gives rise to great temperature swings, both daily and seasonal, with low minimum temperatures at any time of the year, especially in winter; the nocturnal cooling makes it difficult for the maximum temperatures to rise, above all in summer.
Experiences to enjoy in D.O. Arlanza
Discover this wine-growing region located between the provinces of Burgos and Palencia.
