| Description:
Valdepenas is a style of wine created around the city of Valdepenas in the region of Ciudad Real in south central Spain. Referred to locally as clarete, it was granted DO (Denominacion de Origen) status in 1932 due to the distinct style of wine made here that mixes white grapes with red. The land in this region is semi-arid with very high temperature disparities. Summer temperatures can reach over 100 degrees and the most popular grape varietal used in Valdepenas is Airen, which stands up to the heat and low amounts of precipitation. Red grapes used to create Valdepenas wines are: Cencibel (also known as Tempranillo) and Garnacha. Other than the hardy Airen, the white grapes that are used to create the clarete are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. Most Valdepenas wines are meant to be drunk young and are very affordable; most can purchased locally for a few dollars. |
