The Vineyards

The vineyard

Between 2006 and 2007, Margón bought all the rustic vineyard properties in Pajares de los Oteros and its surroundings: a total of 75 plots that add up to 19 Ha. Most of them are over 100 years old. Margón becomes the only winery that produces exclusively with old vineyards between 90 and more than 120 years old. Among these 75 plots are La Finca Valdemuzarra, Finca el Santo and Finca La Milana which produce unique wines with the same name. The remaining Finas are the origin of Pricum Prieto Picudo and Pricum Primeur.

Valdemuz

The Valdemuzarra estate, in Pajares de los Oteros, gives rise to Pricum Valdemuz. This estate dates back to the end of the 19th century and belonged to the same family for centuries. It is considered the oldest vineyard of Prieto Picudo that exists in the Denomination of Origin. Clayey soils with pebbles on the surface and a low yield of 800-900 kg7Ha.

finca
elsanto elsanto

El Santo

The Saint is a very unique place located in San Pedro de los Oteros. It dates back to 1919 and at that time it was considered by everyone to be an unusual vineyard due to its difficulty in ripening and high acidity. This marked difference lies in its soils which, instead of being clayey like the rest, are sandy. This is what most attracted the attention of the winery to take over this vineyard. This extreme acidity will keep these wines alive for years and years. Nowadays Paraje del Santo is one of the most requested wines and better considered for its peculiarity.

La Milana

La Milana is the last farm Margón will acquire in 2016. It dates back to 1925 and is located on the road between Pajares de los Oteros and Pobladura. Also of clay soils with boulders on the surface, it does not reach the 1000 kg / Ha production. Finca La Milana's first vintage is 2015.

lamilana

Peculiarities of the terrain

Since Roman times, the southern area of León became a transit area for all travellers who frequented the two great routes that crossed the production area of Tierra de León: The Ruta de la Plata and the Camino de Santiago (aka. Way of Saint James) . This area later became the wine supplier of practically the whole northern area of the Iberian Peninsula.

In the 10th century, the two economic sources on which the territories of the production area were based were mills for cereal processing and vineyards. There were many monasteries that made possible the resurgence of viticulture in the area by acquiring land dedicated to growing vines. In the Middle Ages, the vine acquired the category of traditional cultivation in the region. From the 16th to the 19th century, the region's vineyards did not stop progressing until 1887, the year in which the phylloxera made its appearance in the Leonese vineyard. This will be affected until the 1920s, but not all the plots.

Uva Prieto Picudo

Prieto Picudo

But the particularity of this land that differentiates it from the other wine-growing areas of the world, is undoubtedly its indigenous variety "PRIETO PICUDO". The Prieto Picudo grape is easily distinguished by its tight bunch and the pine nut shaped berries and also blue-black skin. The high relationship between pulp and skin makes the concentration of polyphenols higher, synthesized in greater quantity.

The vine is presented with the head buried and the branches spread out on the ground; this makes its pruning different from any other.

Poor soils in organic matter and a marked continental climate give the ideal conditions for growing grapes. A soft and generally rainy autumn period favors a good end of maturation. But the most important thing is the difference in temperatures between day and night during this last period. This favors the accumulation of grape polyphenols and the enhancement of aromas.

Albarín

Albarín Blanco is a white grape variety native to the north of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically to the region of Cangas de Narcea, Asturias. The cultivation of this variety, due to its good adaptation, has extended to the neighbouring lands of the DO Tierra de León.

It is a variety of good fertility, early ripening and is very well adapted to the region's climate. Its early budding makes it sensitive to spring frosts. It is also sensitive to mites, mildew and botrytis.

The vine has a semi-upright growth habit. The bunches are short and pyramid-shaped, small in size and not very compact. The berries are small and flattened circular in shape, pale yellow in colour and with a thick skin.

The Albarín Blanco requires cold maceration, giving it citrus and floral aromas. It gives a good alcoholic content and acidity. In the mouth, the Albarín white wine is light and with little structure, but with small quantities of the Verdejo we manage to improve this structure without altering the aromatic perception. In the DO Tierra de León there are already a significant number of wineries that produce Albarín white wine, achieving extraordinary qualities.

Wines from León with Albarín Blanco combine with all types of cheese and white meat.

Uva Albarín