Uclés Appellation will make white and sparkling wines

The agreement was approved in the December 14th Assembly

Uclés Appellation of Origin goes forward in its short but intense evolution with this big qualitative step. From now on, grape varieties Verdejo, Chardonnay, Moscatel de grano menudo, Sauvignon Blanc and Macabeo will be supported by the Production Regulations of the Appellation.

The approved rule details a number of technical issues. Thus, the density of the vineyards will be between 900 y 4,000 plant per hectare, depending on the established training system; grape transformation will be carried out only in wineries situated inside the production zone; minimum alcoholic degree by volume of the white wines from Uclés Appellation will be 9%...

In the same way, the different types of wine, their wine making and their characteristic features are defined. White wines can be Dry, Semidry, Semisweet and Sweet, depending on their residual sugar contents. To make dry white wines, bunches will be crushed, separating the wooden parts and without grape skins, and fermentation will last as necessary to use up the sugars, at a temperature between 10 and 22 ºC. If any skins maceration is done, it cannot last more than 6 days at a controlled temperature of 10/22 ºC. Semidry and semisweet wines will be treated the same way, but stopping fermentation before sugars are completely used up.

From the organoleptic point of view, white Uclés wines will be pale yellow, perhaps with amber or greenish nuances. Primary fragrances must be fruity, clean and fresh. In the tasting phase they must be soft, with slight acidity, a persistent and harmonic back taste and good balance.

For sparkling wines the traditional method will be used. The base wine used as ‘liqueur de tirage’ must have the same analytic features than the white wines already described. Uclés sparkling wines categories will be Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Dry, Semidry and Sweet, depending on their residual sugars, and all them will have an alcoholic degree by volume between 9 and 13%. Regarding their organoleptic analysis, they will usually be white, pale and bright, with froth made up by small and persistent bubbles. With fruity and clean flavours, in the mouth they shall be fresh and balanced, with a big retronasal taste.

These regulations were approved in plenary session by the Assembly of the Uclés Appellation of Origin on last December 14th. To be fully effective, the new rules must pass the ratification procedure before the Agriculture Department of Castilla–La Mancha.

By expanding its range to white and sparkling wines, Uclés Appellation bets firmly on the distinctive values of its land and vineyards, confident in reaching equal or greater success than that got by its red wines.