Wine Region: Bullas D.o.

Bullas is a DO (Denominación de Origen) wine region in the southern part of the Murcia province in south-eastern Spain. It stretches from Jumilla almost all the way down to the Mediterranean coast at Puerto de Mazarron. This location makes Bullas the southernmost DO wine zone in the Levante (the traditional, collective name for Murcia its northern neighbour, Valencia).

The Bullas DO title was created in 1994, and is managed by its own ConsejoRegulador (wine authority). It s named for the small, ancient town of that name, located at the heart of official Bullas viticultural area. Although the area only gained n official DO title relatively recently, it has a long history of winemaking. It is best-known for its rosé and red wines, particularly those made in the fresh, vibrant joven style.

Immediately to the west of Bullas lies the Sierra Nevada, the mountain range which connects Murcia with Andalucia. To the east lies the coastal plain of Cartagena and a large lagoon known as the Mar Menor (small sea in Spanish).

The landscape and climate here in this rugged, elevated region is harsh and dry and elevated. Most vineyards sit between 1,650ft and 2,700ft (approx 500-810m) above sea level. The soils here are often so hard they have to be broken up by mechanical means before vines can be planted. This effort is well rewarded, with limestone and chalk

soils providing good drainage in the higher areas and alluvial and limestone soils in lower-lying parts also offering good drainage. This is essential, as torrential rains and storms can hit Bullas in September and October.

Bullas has a similar climate to Murcia’s other wine regions, with the Mediterranean effects marginalised by the hot, dry conditions of the central Iberian plateau. Summer days tend to be very hot, with temperatures regularly rising to 104°F (40°C). Higher-altitude vineyards in the region’s hilly north-west are noticeably cooler, and its is here that grape are grown for the majority of Bullas wines. Winters all over Bullas tend to be cooler than in other parts of Murcia, because of the mountain influences, which means that occasional frosts are a threat.

Monastrell reigns supreme in Bullas and is responsible for the DO’s signature fruity red wines. It accounts for 60% of the vines here. Traditionally, most of these were drunk joven (young), but since Bullas attained its appellation status, many adventurous producers have successfully experimented with maturing the best wines in American oak barrels. Monastrell is also the grape variety of choice for the region’s fresh and lively Bullas Rosado rosés.

Other grape varieties used include Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot and Petit Verdot. A small number of white wines are produced, predominantly from the Macabeo and Airen grapes, although Chardonnay, Malvasia Blanca, Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc are also permitted.

Most of the production in Bullas has been cooperative-based, reflecting the region’s traditional bulk-producer image and history, but this system is waning as more and more quality-conscious producers create wines expressive of the local terroir. Unlike in the past, many bottled wines are now finding their way to the export markets.