Located in the western central part of Spain, Toro is a region with ancient roots.
- The Toro DO is located in the western central part of Spain, just south of Zamora. It has ancient roots with a documented history that traces back to the Roman Empire.
- The Toro DO is home to some of the world’s best Tempranillo wines. While most Spanish Tempranillos are aged in American oak barrels and display a fruit-forward profile, Toro wines behave more like their neighbors across the Portuguese border, boasting intense earthy flavors and being aged mostly in French oak.
- When it comes to climate and soil conditions required for growing grapes, Toro is similar to other regions located in northern Spain, including Ribera del Duero (also famous for Tempranillo-based reds) or Bierzo (famous for Mencía).
Toro is an ancient winegrowing region, with some sites being used as early as the 2nd century BC.
The name Toro is thought to refer to the bull, which was the main symbol of the ancient tribes. It is an ancient winegrowing region, with some sites being used as early as the 2nd century BC.
Toro is located very close to Portugal, and its winegrowing areas are in a pathway for strong winds which create unique microclimates.
Located in the western central part of Spain, Toro is close to Portugal and its winegrowing areas are in the pathway for strong winds. The strong winds create unique microclimates which affect the ripening of the grapes.
A wide range of grape varieties are grown in Toro, including some that are indigenous to the region.
Toro is known for its red wines, with Tempranillo, Tinta de Toro and Garnacha being the most widely planted varieties. However, a wide range of grape varieties are grown in Toro, including some that are indigenous to the region. White wines are made with Verdejo, Albillo and Albillo Real.
The most widely planted variety in Toro is Tinta de Toro, an indigenous variety related to Tempranillo that can produce bold reds.
The Spanish red grape variety, Tinta de Toro, is related to Tempranillo and can produce bold, full-bodied reds. It’s mostly grown in the Toro DO of Castilla y Leon in northwestern Spain.
Tinta de Toro is a high-quality red grape variety that can be used for blending or for single-varietal wines.
Bodegas Bilbaínas was one of the pioneers of modern quality winemaking in the region and produced many famous vintage wines during the 1990s.
Bodegas Bilbaínas was one of the pioneers of modern quality winemaking in the region. The winery was founded in 1890 and produced many famous vintage wines during the 1990s.
Bodegas Numanthia-Termes uses Tinta de Toro, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot to make its red wines.
The Spanish winery Bodegas Numanthia-Termes, founded in 1998 and located in the Toro DO village of Numanthia, is owned by the Eguren family. The winery uses Tinta de Toro, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot to make its red wines. Owners of the vineyards have been making wine there since Roman times when it was known as Nemantia.
Emilio Moro’s wines are made with 100 percent indigenous Tinta del Toro grapes and are noted for their intense flavors and ability to age well.
The winery that makes the most famous wines in Toro, Emilio Moro is known for its old-vine wines, made with Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) and its single-vineyard wines. The family has been making wine in Toro since the 1930s. Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s most important regions for Tempranillo grapes, but unlike in Ribera del Duero, where almost all producers make unwooded wines, most bodegas in Toro do oak-ageing. You can expect to spend around $20 for a bottle of Moro red.
Among these big-ticket estates are several small boutique wineries turning out impressive wines.
Among these big-ticket estates are several smaller wineries turning out wines of high quality.
“We’re a small, family run operation, and we focus on producing the best wines possible,” says Castilla. “Our philosophy is that wine is made in the vineyard, but it can be perfected in the cellar. That’s what we try to do; to take the fruit from our estate vineyards and craft them into beautiful wines that will continue to age gracefully. We only produce 4-5k cases per year so all our energy and effort goes into crafting wines of a higher standard than other Toro wineries who are larger producers and only have one or two labels.”