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Extremadura has approximately 77,800 hectares of vineyard distributed between Cáceres and Badajoz, that are divided as well in six wine producing zones that today integrate in the Denomination of Origin Ribera del Guadiana.
In this virtual route, we will start in Tierra de Barros.
Located in center of Badajoz province, Tierra de Barros is characterized to be almost flat, with fertile lands and with remarkable capacity for the water retention.
Its average altitude is of 521 meters on the level of the sea. It has a quite dry climate, high temperatures in summer, accentuated by the action of the wind comming from Africa (called 'solano') and precipitations that holds between 350 and 450 millimeters per year.
The geographic and meteorological conditions cause that the varieties of more important grapes in the zone are the native: white Cayetana Blanca and Pardina as well as the red Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon. Also the plantations of Montua and Macabeo are abundant.
At the south of this zone, but smaller in extension, is the zone called Matanegra.
This region has a similar climate, maybe something smoother than Tierra de Barros. For that reason every year the recollection of the grape is delayed during some days.
The average altitude also similar to its neighboring region. In fact, some varieties of grape as the White Cayetana and the Pardilla are also in this zone. Matanegra has its own white varieties like the Eva or Beba de los Santos, Montua and Macabeo.
Going towards the west, near Badajoz city and the Portugal border, is located Ribera Baja.
It is a zone with fertile valleys with an argillaceous and muddy character. The average altitude of this zone is approximately 286 meters.
It has a continental climate with moderate Atlantic influence: long summers, short and smooth autumns and springs, with concentrations of rains, and relatively smooth winters. In this zone the white grapes are majority: Cayetana Blanca and Pardina, with some vineyards cultiving Macabeo for white wine and Tempranillo, and a bit of Garnacha for red wines.
Its neighbor is Ribera Alta, near the historical city of Merida.
It is a flat zone: fertile valleys of the Guadiana river, the lands of La Serena and lands of Castuera, just at the end of Tierra de Barros.
Guadiana river and its affluents have made a very sandy lands where a continental climate with moderate Atlantic influence exists.
Common grape varieties of this zone are white Alarije and Borba, and for red wine, mainly Tempranillo and something of Garnacha.
To the north of Ribera Alta is located Montanchez.
It is a mountain zone, with abundant hills and small valleys in which the vineyards are located at an average altitude of 638 meters. The climate is continental, with very warm summers and smooth winters. The rain is between 500 and 600 mm per year.
The most abundant variety of this region is the Borba (white), about 2/3 of the total of the vineyard. We can find also Alarije, Cayetana Blanca and Pedro Ximenez.
Finally we come to Cañamero, located at the east of Extremadura, in the mountain range of Guadalupe.
This zone has its vineyards in an average altitude of 849 meters. The vineyards are mainly in poor lands (slate), near the mountains. The climate is smooth, without great temperature variations. Rain is abundant, about 750 - 800 millimeters per year.
Alarije is the most abundant variety (about 3/4 of total). Also the Chelva and Malvar varieties are used for white wine. And we can find Tempranillo and Garnacha varieties for red wine.
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