La Casita - hacienda y bodega

wine region | wine makers | vineyards | grape varieties | contact info

La Casita is located in the Arribes region of western Spain.

Arribes straddles both the provinces of Zamora and Salamanca with the ancient University City of Salamanca approximately an hour’s drive from the central vineyard area.

The name Arribes refers to the hilly escarpments (450 to 800m) that fall dramatically down to the Duero River (120m above sea level). The region is hot and arid for much of the growing season with temperatures that steadily fall from September through to the normal harvesting period of early to mid October.

The area has been raising its wine status over the last fifteen years and was awarded the intermediate V.T.A title (akin to the French VDQS) in 2003. It is hoped that the ultimate DO status will be awarded later this year (2006). Other agricultural products in the region include olives, almonds, sheep cheese and hams from acorn fed pigs.

The Duero River forms the frontier between Spain and Portugal and is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists, many of whom take cruises through Portugal and into Arribes.

The river has many impressive dams that make it popular with visitors, as well as an abundance of wildlife including metre long lizards, scorpions, birds of prey and the protected black stork (ciconia nigra) that can be seen nesting on high buildings.

International tourists and students are also attracted to the beautiful and historic university city of Salamanca where they enjoy amongst other attractions, its lively tapas culture.