Regional guide: Jumilla

In association with DOP Jumilla

DOP Jumilla is located south of Madrid, in a high altitude valley surrounded by the towns of Alicante, Albacete and Murcia. It’s one of Spain’s oldest DOs – created in 1966 – with over 5,000 years of history.

It has a hot climate, but the cool nights and high altitude bring a large diurnal range which help the grapes retain freshness.

The majority of Jumilla’s Monastrell vines are ungrafted, as phylloxera has never infiltrated these soils. 90% of the vineyards are also organic – again the warm temperatures and low humidity mean that there is less need for pesticides.

Red grape varieties

Monastrell accounts for 77% of all red grapes here, but the region also grows Tempranillo, Syrah, Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Cab Sauv, Garnacha (Grenache), Merlot
and Petit Verdot.

White grape varieties

White varieties grown include 2.6% Airén, Macabeo, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Moscatel de Grano Menudo (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains), Verdejo & Pedro Ximenez and Malvasia.

Jumilla Fact file

90% organic cultivation
16,000 hectares of vineyard
1,000+ hectares of ungrafted Monastrell
400-900m vineyard altitude
1,700 producers

Wines produced
90% red
5% white
4% rosé
1% sweet and fortified