La Mancha is the largest delimited wine region not only in Spain, but in the whole of Europe.
Not only one of Spain's largest wine regions, it is also one of the oldest. Winemaking is thought to have originated here in Roman times, and was certainly widespread during medieval times.
La Mancha
The most successful grape varieties in La Mancha are those hardy enough to withstand the harsh conditions.
The reds range from easy-drinking and affordable styles to the more serious barrel-aged wines. Tempranillo (known locally as Cencibel) is by far the most popular red wine variety, often accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
There are more than 190,000 hectares (469,500 acres) of vineyard here. The vines are spread over 182 municipalities and four provinces (Albacete, Cuenca, Ciudad Real and Toledo).
La Mancha has an extreme continental climate. Summer daytime temperatures regularly exceed 40°C (104°F), but drop dramatically as darkness falls.
Winters are cold, with sub-zero temperatures and frequent frosts. These dramatic climatic variations, along with low annual rainfall (on average 350 millimeters / 14 inches), create certain challenges for grape-growers.