D.O. Jumilla

Wine tourism in D.O. JUMILLA

The Jumilla designation of origin is located in the south-east of Spain, covering a broad district in the north of the region of Murcia and part of the south-east of the province of Albacete. It is a rugged region, where the vines stretch across a high plateau surrounded by mountains.

A unique area for unique wines

The area of the D.O. Jumilla, which comprises around 22,700 hectares of vineyards spread between the provinces of Murcia and Albacete, considered by the specialised press as an emerging designation of origin owing to the quality and originality of its wines, is today a reality, being one of the Spanish designations of origin that markets the most wine.

The Protected Designation of Origin Jumilla has some 22,700 hectares of vineyard, of which 40% are located in the municipality of Jumilla, bringing together almost 1,800 winegrowers. It has 39 registered wineries.

The land and the climate

The soils of the designation are brown, calcareous brown and calcareous; in general they have a great water-holding capacity and medium permeability. This allows the vines to subsist under conditions of prolonged drought, making good use of the available water. They are soils poor in organic matter, their structure does not allow the spread of phylloxera, they are of high pH and low salinity and have a loamy and sandy-loam texture that gives them good aeration. The vineyard sits at an altitude between 400 and 800 metres.

Zones

The character of the Jumilla wines is determined by what is known as “terroir“. This is a magical combination of grape variety, soil composition, orientation and pruning of the vines, and the climatology. This feature sets them apart from the products of other regions.

Microclimates

The climate of the region is of a continental type influenced by the proximity of the Mediterranean to the east and of the La Mancha plateau to the west. It is a sunny and arid climate, with about 3,000 hours of sun a year, and scarce rainfall, some 300 litres per square metre annually. The regime of these rains is very irregular, at times torrential. The average annual temperature is 16º, with cold winters that reach sub-zero temperatures and hot summers where 40º is exceeded. The frost period usually occurs between the months of November and March.

To speak of the Jumilla Designation of Origin is to speak of the Monastrell variety, this being the grape variety that has best adapted over time to the climate and soil conditions of this designation and which imprints its character on its wines; this variety represents more than 80% of the designation's vineyards.

The Monastrell vine is of upright bearing, with thick, short, sparsely branched shoots; its leaf has a pentagonal-shaped blade with three marked lobes. Its clusters are small or medium and quite compact, with spherical, medium-sized berries of a blue-black colour, with a thick skin rich in anthocyanins; its pulp is fleshy and soft with a small amount of tannins.

The wine variety of jumilla

The wines of the D.O. Jumilla have the distinguishing feature, compared with others, of being made from the Monastrell variety, which represents more than 80% of the cultivated surface and which, through the modernisation efforts of producers and winemakers, has managed to earn the prestige and recognition of the Spanish and world wine sphere.

Jumilla Rosé Wines

Among these the rosé wines stand out: most obtained from the Monastrell variety, through short macerations between pulp and skins, they display pink, raspberry and cherry tones, with purple nuances, of fruity and elegant aromas, flavourful and fresh on the palate.

Jumilla Red Wines

The red wines, dominated by the presence of the Monastrell grape, of strong colour, generally an intense purplish red with violet rims and very expressive and fruity on the nose (black, ripe fruits, plum, …), with lively tannins on the palate and great structure.

As for the aged red wines, apart from the well-integrated oak, they are flavourful, meaty and of great aromatic complexity, not forgetting the sweet, natural and liqueur red wines, brilliant and dense wines of great colour intensity, with aromas of ripe fruits (raisins, figs…) with good tactile sensations and very persistent on the palate; they are traditional wines of the area and of undeniable quality.

Experiences to enjoy in D.O. Jumilla

Discover this wine-growing region located between Murcia and Albacete.