Historically, much of the wine in Jumilla was sold off as bulk wine or made into wines of high alcohol content. The country side is a rugged high plateau of about 1200ft-2600ft above sea level that is surrounded by mountains. Much of the soil is sandy over limestone bedrock. The temperature is the typical south eastern Spanish climate: hot and dry - often above 100 degrees in the summers and the winters are cold. Droughts are often a problem as rainfall is infrequent and unpredictable. All of this creates a difficult environment for grapes to grow; however, Monastrell has found a home and thrives here. Jumilla has been known for its production of heavy full bodied red wines with 17% alcohol, however in recent years there has been a shift towards producing younger and lighter styles of wines.

Producers

• Fernandez