Toro

The origins of Toro wines date back to before the Roman colonization of Spain. In the Middle Ages and beyond, Toro wines filled the royal cellars and the ships bound for the New World. In the 19th century, large quantities were exported to France to fill the gap left by phylloxera. In 1987, the appellation received regulatory protection through the granting of the famous "Denominación de Origen" designation.

The terroir of Toro wines is located in the southeast of the province of Zamora, in the western part of the Castile and León region. The wine-producing area governed by the DO Toro covers 62,000 hectares. The soil consists of sediments, clay, and limestone conglomerates. The climate of the Toro appellation is continental, extremely dry, and influenced by the Atlantic.

The typical grape variety ofthe Toro appellation is Tinta de Toro, which is primarily used to produce red wines alongside Grenache. These wines can be classified as Crianza, Reserva, or Gran Reserva depending on their age and the duration of aging in oak barrels. White wines from Toro, on the other hand, are made primarily from Verdejo and Malvasía. The appellation also produces rosé wines composed of half Grenache and half Tinta de Toro. The strength and richness of Toro wines can be appreciated by tasting vintages from Bodegas Liberalia, Sobreno, or Elias Mora.