Club Vinissimus Selection January 2021

The wonders of Toro

The winemaking region of Toro shares its name with that of the majestic animal so many consider to be a symbol of Spain, the bull (toro in Spanish). And in fact, the DO Toro appellation also shares a similar prestige and popularity thanks to its wonderful wines.

Toro wines are among the jewels of the Spanish wine scene. As with the neighbouring DO Rueda and Ribera del Duero appellations, winemaking in the DO Toro region is strongly influenced by the River Duero in north-west Spain. Similar in style to Ribera wines, Toro wines are somewhat more mature and full-bodied, exhibiting an intensity born in its poor soils and extremely dry climate. This intense power was a source of criticism for Toro wines many years ago, but also an advantage as it meant they could travel far and wide without losing quality.

Even the ruthless phylloxera plague struggled to destroy plants in this region, thanks to the dry sandy soils, meaning that nowadays Toro is one of the few appellations in Spain which can produce wines from ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines.

Toro used to have a certain reputation as a producer of rough, inelegant, dark-coloured strong wines normally used to add intensity to blends. Fortunately, changes in styles, the modernization of winemaking methods, and a group of wise and experienced producers (like the three we have chosen for you) have turned things round, and Toro is now known for creating splendidly powerful and tannic wines, but with an elegant and sophisticated side.