Just South of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha is one of the Peninsula’s biggest Autonomous Communities located just in the heart of Spain. Worldwide known as the cradle of Don Quixote, the name La Mancha derives from the Arabic Almanchara, which means “flat”.
Being the widest agricultural area of the country, La Mancha is a windswept plateau with an continental mediterranean climate. It is usually dry and harsh and drought is also common due to the micro-climate, with an average annual rainfall of about 300-400 mm.
This region’s gastronomy is very varied, thanks to the vast area of land which grows a wide diversity of crops. Apart from fresh vegetables, Castilla-La Mancha produces local specialties such as the Manchego cheese, olives, honey and garlic, being world-wide famous for its saffron.
With over 600,000 ha (1,5 M acres) of vineyards, Castilla-La-Mancha is the most extensive wine-growing region in the world. Being one of the first regions to introduce foreign grape varieties in Spain, La Mancha currently is home of 10 wine designations of origin and other quality categories producing interesting and exciting wines to market abroad.
Products to discover:
- Honey from La Mancha: Buleo Miel.
- Goat and sheep cheeses DO La Mancha: Quesos de la Huz.
- DO La Mancha wines: Bodega Cristo de la Vega.
- Do Ucles wines: Bodegas Palomar Sanchez
- Wines VT Castilla: Bodegas Los Aljibes, Bodega Finca La Estacada, Bodega Mont Reaga.
- Goat and sheep cheeses DO La Mancha: Quesos de la Huz.
- DO La Mancha wines: Bodega Cristo de la Vega.
- Do Ucles wines: Bodegas Palomar Sanchez
- Wines VT Castilla: Bodegas Los Aljibes, Bodega Finca La Estacada, Bodega Mont Reaga.