The Phoenician merchants of antiquity are known to have traded grapes grown in the Arribes area and production has almost certainly continued in some form since those times. The area was prosperous in the 19th and early part of the 20th century with much of the terraced slopes growing grapes, almonds or olives.
The decline of agriculture in the last thirty years (the leftmost thumbnail is of terraces abandoned around 1990) has gone hand in hand with migration to the cities and so that now there is a situation where an increasingly aged workforce is left to tend to the old family plots (often with up to 80 year old vines). As such there are opportunities to take on high quality existing vineyards at very attractive rates.
Arribes may be considered an excellent area for growing grapes for a number of reasons.
- The high altitude tempers the heat of the summer and this extends growing season allowing greater phenolic development of the berries.
- The elevation attracts higher precipitation then the surrounding plains, whilst early or late season frost damage is not typically a nuisance.
- The temperature range and amount of sunlight hours mean that the area has a heat summation total that makes it ideal for the production of “very good to excellent red wines” (Winkler et al).
- Although arid, the large sparsely populated catchment area provides a reliable source of water for the underground streams that feed the many springs and wells of the area.
- In addition the crumbly slate soil has excellent water retention properties so that 10cm or so beneath the topsoil, the damp subsoil is able to provide sufficient moisture for vine roots.
The table summarises the advantages of undertaking viticulture in Arribes:
Aspect of viticulture |
Advantages of the Arribes region |
Climate |
The temperature and sunlight hours make this an area for ‘very good to excellent’ red wine production. The low humidity and rainfall mean that fungal and bacterial disease are far less prevalent than in other wine areas such as Bordeaux – this means less need for expensive spray programs and easier organic cultivation. |
Altitude |
Good mix of altitude that increases the range of varietal suitability with higher areas benefiting from a prolonged growing season (beneficial for phenolic development). |
Soil |
The slate subsoil retains moisture in this arid area. Quartz and mineral diversity make for interesting ‘Terroir’. |
DO status |
Arribes is hoping to be awarded ‘Denominacion de Origen’ status later this year (2006). As a result the organisation that has been setup to promote the area will receive increased funding to promote the wines of the region and wine buyers the world over will be more attracted to investigate wines from Spain ’s latest area of quality wine production. |
Natural beauty |
The dramatic natural beauty of the area, as well as its proximity to the historic tourist centre of Salamanca, mean that Arribes is becoming an increasingly popular area for tourism. Many government and EU funded initiatives such as the beautification of villages and the creation of bicycle and footpaths are underway. The increased tourism also brings greater interest and demand for locally produced products. |
Cost |
The migration of people from the area has left existing old plots available cheaply for hire / purchase. Older vines tend to produce more concentrated fruit. In addition land and property prices are low in comparison to other wine growing regions. |
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