The best wines from Toro in Spain

Toro is located about 40 kilometers from the Portuguese border in Castilla y León along the Duero river. It is a very old wine region that has only recently been in the spotlight again. Thanks to the Tinta de Toro, the local variant of the Tempranillo, which has a thick skin and produces powerful, fruity red wines.

Wine has been produced in Toro for at least 800 years. However, the region only received its Denominación de Orígen (DO) classification in 1987. Since then, Toro has slowly but surely emerged from the shadow of its popular brother Ribera del Duero. The few dozen Bodegas in Toro have shown that their powerful, robust red wines can age excellently for years without losing their fruitiness.

Red Toro is mainly made from Tinta de Toro, the local, centuries-old variety of Tempranillo. It grows in Toro in a very continental climate with hot summer days, cool summer nights and short, cold winters. Over the centuries, the grape has developed a thick skin to protect itself against this climate. This only makes the wine more powerful and intense. In order to be allowed to use Toro DO on the label, the red wine must contain at least 75% Tinta de Toro. In addition, Toro mainly grows Garnacha, Malvasia and Verdejo.