GPE Media Kits_ Region 1 Meseta Norte_NUMANTHIA_EN
Founded in 1998, Bodega Numanthia is located in Valdefinjas, Castilla y León, in the Northwest of Spain. It was one of the first estates to realize the potential of the Toro region, an outstanding terroir known for its beautiful expression of the timeless Tinta de Toro variety. The vineyardiscomposedof370acres(150hectares)ofvinesinthecommunesofToro,MoralesdeToro, Valdefinjas, Venialbo, El Pego and Argujillo. Bodega Numanthia is dedicated to making wines that honestlyreflectthediversityoftheirvineyards.
SINCE 2013
KEY FACTS
CLIMATE: Extreme temperatures in winter and summer. Duero River influence creates periods of fog during the winter; shortage of rainfall in summer
ELEVATION: 2,133- 2,821 feet (650 - 860 m)
SOILS: Sandy, varying between gravel and pebbles on the surface depending on the area. Deep subsoil varying between sandy and clayey depending on the location of the vineyard.
CLASS: DO Toro
HISTORY
VINE: 370 acres (150 ha) in 150 parcels throughout Toro
KEY VARIETALS: Tinta de Toro
ECO: Certified organic; vines are dry-farmed and managed without pesticides or herbicides
INNOVATE: Recovery of 120 ecotypes of old Tinta de Toro vineyards. Annual projects to improve biodiversity in vineyard environment.
Bodega Numanthia is a living tribute to the fearless warriors of Numancia, whose inhabitants heroically resisted the Roman army for 20 years in 134 B.C., preferring to sacrifice their lives rather than surrender.
This resilient spirit extends to the region’s long-standing traditions in winemaking and viticulture. The vineyards were planted by enterprising families centuries ago during the Roman era. The vines have survived the phylloxera plague during the late 19th century and the region’s naturally extreme climate conditions. During the Middle Ages, Toro wines were also the first to travel to the Americas on Christopher Columbus’ voyage in 1492.
agricultural engineer degree as well as a master's degree in viticulture and enology.
Vineyard Manager Alejandro Vicente is a native of Toro and worked on his family farm before studying agriculture engineering and enology. Finally, Winemaking and Sustainability Assistant Marine Roussel grew up near Montpellier, France, in the heart of Pic Saint-Loup. She worked in several wine regions, including Pommard, Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and Mendoza.
SUSTAINABLE VALUES
Numanthia’s mission is to preserve the natural andcentenarianculturalpatrimonytheofToro region. All old vineyards are managed organically.Sofar,theyhavecertified287acres (116 ha) and are planning to reach 100%
TERROIR
Bodega Numanthia benefits from the widely varied climate of DO Toro.Theregionhaseightdifferentterroirtypes,andisknownforits semi-arid climate with harsh winters and hot summers. With the Duero River running through the north of the area, the vineyards experience periods of fog that help cool the grapes during the brutally hot summers. Wide diurnal temperature shifts also allow thegrapestomaintaintheiracidityandbalance.
Thegravelandsandsoilscontainlittleorganicmatter.This,coupled with a climate prone to long periods of drought with little rainfall, provides a stressful environment for vines. This is key to the highly complex, concentrated and full-bodied wines DO Toro is known for.
A vast range of flora and fauna populates the area, including rockroses, oaks and pines. Many herbs and flowers such as thyme, juniper, rockroses and broom all contribute to the character of Numanthia’swines.
Bodega Numanthia’s wines are named after the Celtiberian villages around Numancia. Different elements of the wine packaging are inspired by objects discovered during the local archaeological expeditions in the city of Numancia.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
VITICULTURE Bodega Numanthia is composed of 370 acres (150 ha) of vines in the villages of Toro: Morales de Toro, Valdefinjas, Venialbo, El Pego and Argujillo. Vines are between 25 and 200 years old; the ungrafted vines are goblet-trained to protect them from long periods of drought and extended sun exposure. The lack of rainfall and irrigation force vine roots to grow up to five meters into the earth to reach water. This deprivation results in low-yields with highly-concentrated, thick-skinned fruit. The average yield is 2,228 lbs per acre (2,500 kg per ha).
WINEMAKING Each of the 150 plots are manually-harvested between the first weeks of September and early October after they have been individually confirmed to be at their optimal maturity. Grapes are selected with an optical sorter and then see a four to five day period of cold prefermentative maceration. Extended maceration on the skins after fermentation in either new French or neutral French oak barrels creates a lush texture on the palate. Bodega Numanthia focuses on “infusion rather than extraction” to achieve the balance of power and elegance.
Numanthia is a wine crafted to reflect the diversity of the Toro terroir and is blended from 100 plots. After 12 months in French oak, it is bottle-aged at the winery for three years before release. Termanthia is an expression of the Tinta de Toro grape from select parcels of their oldest vines. It spends 22 months in French oak, followed by five years of bottle aging.
Most of Numanthia’s vines are between 25 and 200 years old. An exceptional plot of 10 acres (4.8 ha) located in Argujillo was planted more than 120 years ago, and some select vines have been dated as far back as 200 years. Local families have cared for these plots for generations, and work closely with the team at Bodega Numanthia.
How is the terroir reflected in the wines of Bodega Numanthia?
The wines of Bodega Numanthia have a rare duality of expression that is both warm and fresh. They evoke fresh herbs such as thyme, mint and eucalyptus, as well as red fruit, licorice, cinnamon and pepper.
The wines are all from Tinta de Toro; a strain of Tempranillo that thrives in the gravel, sand and clay soils of the region. The plant’s fight for nourishment due to soil conditions and low rainfall yields thick-skinned, highly concentrated fruit known as “the blackest of black grapes.” This fruit yields n expressive, ample and complex wine.
BODEGA NUMANTHIA PORTFOLIO: Numanthia, Termanthia
Singularities of the winery
Working hand-in-hand with local families, Bodega Numanthia manages its vineyards through organic practices, striving to preserve, protect and nourish the heritage of the land. The estate proudly produces wine using 100% Tinta de Toro, a variety that has grown here since the 2nd century B.C.
Why is Bodega Numanthia a Grandes Pagos de España winery?
Bodega Numanthia is fully aligned with the mission of Grandes Pagos de España: to defend the unique personality of estate wines and to share their culture and uniqueness.
Numanthia DO Toro
Varieties
100% Tinta de Toro
Vinification
12 months in French oak 225L and 400L barrels. 60% new barrels, 40% second use
Good to Know
Sourced from ungrafted vines that are 70+ years-old
ermanthia DO Toro
Varieties
100% Tinta de Toro
Vinification
22 months in new French oak barrels; racked every four months
