Red wine from Spain’s DO Toro region in Castilla y León
A lot is said, these days, about the ‘histories and stories behind the label’, as producers and appellations across the world seek to engrave a sense of uniqueness in the minds of consumers. But few regions boast a viticultural and winemaking history as long and established as DO Toro, deeply rooted in the identity of Castilla y León. Far from emerging as a marketing necessity, in Toro this long heritage is part of a lived history that has not only endured but still shapes the region’s landscape, economy and symbolism.
What is it, then, that makes Toro unique and special? It is, above all, its singular combination of historical relevance and future potential. Along with a renewed understanding and appreciation of the region’s oenological lineage, there has also been a recognition of its privileged ability to grapple with key viticultural challenges in the near future. As climate change looms large, DO Toro has two key assets that allow it to face the future with optimism, if not excitement: an adaptable and inherently resilient viticultural landscape, and a vibrant community of skilled winemakers, itself experiencing an exhilarating moment of renewal.
What’s in a name
Toro’s own indigenous and eponymous variety, Tinta de Toro, is sometimes mistakenly described as a local clone of Tempranillo. The reality is more complex – and fascinatingly so: Tinta de Toro has a very specific phenotypic profile, very different from Tempranillo, with compact bunches of smaller,
