Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana
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Condado de Huelva wine region is located in Andalusia, south of Spain. It is one of Europe’s most important wine regions and has been producing wines for over 500 years. The region produces a wide range of white, red, rosé, sweet, and fortified wines. Condado de Huelva has a vast array of grape varieties of its vineyards, such as Palomino, Zalema, Tempranillo, etc. The region has been producing first-water wines since early times. Still, in recent years, there has been an increase in demand for high-quality Spanish wine, leading to increased production and better wine marketability.
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DO (Denominacion de Origen) Condado de Huelva is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in the province of Huelva, south-western part of Spain near the border of Portugal and Jerez de la Frontera from the other side. The region of Andalusia is quite massive, occupying the entire southern coast of Spain, and Huelva is an important city in the region. The vineyards of Condado de Huelva stretch the area of 3000 hectares with maximum crop production of 10,000 kg per hectare. Manzanilla de Sanlucar is the neighbouring wine sub-region, bordering Condado de Huelva, connecting it to the Jerez. Other prominent wine sub-regions in Andalusia are Montilla-Moriles, Sierras de Malaga and Laderas del Genil.
The Condado de Huelva wine region has a long history dating back to ancient times, but it reached its peak in wine production volume by the 15th century, and this demand has not dropped since then. Condado de Huelva wines are said to have been served by Christopher Columbus and his crew, who set out from there on their voyage of discovery. The rootstocks were later brought over to other colonies, including those in America. And probably that is why the Romans called it “Havana” because they believed that this was where they got their wines. Condado de Huelva earned its appellation or denomination status and became an authorized DO in 1964.
The Condado de Huelva wine region is quite sunny but moderately hot, with temperatures ranging from 8 to 32 °C. The climate is somewhere between Mediterranean and Atlantic, spring and summer are fairly long and warm, and therefore the winter is mild, with no threat of frosts, which is perfect for vine growing. The area where the vineyards are situated is divided into two zones: Condado Countryside and Condado seaside. Both of them are usually protected by a row of trees, among which are olive trees, that can provide shade and decimate strong winds. The Condado de Huelva soil is sandy, basically neutral or a little alkaline, containing some amount of alluvial and limestone, making the area quite fertile and propitious for growing quality wine grapes, olives, and figs. The average annual rainfall is 700 mm, and the altitude is 25 m above sea level. All these elements and the beneficial location of the region create favourable conditions for wine production, encourage fertility and stipulate the distinctive and various tastes of wines.
Condado de Huelva offers a wide range of wine types produced from different grape varieties, with a very good level of acidity. Zalema is a predominant grape variety, representing almost half of the Huelva wines used to produce white wines. Other white wines are made from the following authorized grape varieties: Palomino, Pedro Ximenez, Listán de Huelva, Garrido Fino, Moscatel de Alejandría, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay. All white wines have a 10% minimum alcohol content. Apart from being produced of different grapes, there is also another distinction in the texture of white wines, and they can be of the following types:
As for red wines are mainly produced from Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grapes. Their colour is cherry to crimson red, with fruity or herbaceous aromas and moderate acidity. According whether it is aged or not, the red wines are classified as follows:
Furthermore, Condado de Huelva produces a variety of dry, fortified wines with a minimum of two years of ageing and is made from Palomino, Garrido, or Listan de Huelva grapes. Here is the list of the Condado de Huelva fortified wines:
And that’s not all; Condado de Huelva offers a great variety of sweet and liquor wines with high alcohol content. As well as floral rosé and orange wine, or famous vino Naranja del Condado de Huelva, as said in Spanish, with a fantastic, fruity taste.
Plato Alpujarreño is a traditional Andalusian dish, very simple to prepare yet so delicious and succulent. Its basis is potatoes with pork meat, sausages, onions, sweet peppers, and special Andalusian sauce, all mixed and stewed in the oven. It makes a perfect dinner, especially accompanied by a glass of Condado de Huelva red wine.
Arroz de montaña, or rice of the mountain, is a speciality of the mountainous part of Andalusia. Consisting of cooked rice, chicken, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and lots of herbs, topped with nuts, it is a common dish in every Andalusian family that is great to serve with Condado de Huelva red or white dry wine.
Caracoles a la Andaluza is a remarkable Andalusian variety of tapas, which is very common in Spain. Tapas can be quite nutritious, however, and not just an appetizer. Specifically, this is a snail dish with a silky, creamy sauce made of blended tomatoes, garlic, parsley, a little cream, salt, pepper, white wine and brandy. This tapas goes exceptionally well with a glass of Condado de Huelva dry Young or Traditional white wine.
Dolmen de Soto is located in the Condado de Huelva, Spain. It is a neolithic subterranean archaeological site with a large stone circle. It was built around 5000 BC. The Dolmen de Soto has been known since Roman times but was not excavated until the 1900s when archaeologists started digging it up. This massive sightseeing is worth visiting if you are in the region as this monument reflects the characteristics and abilities of ancient local people.
Doñana National Park is a national park in Andalusia, one of this country’s largest and best preserved natural areas. It is an area of remarkable biodiversity, with different habitats for plants and animals. Therefore, it is a great place to visit if you are a nature lover; you will find rare species of birds and a famous Spanish imperial eagle. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Discover the locations of wineries in Condado de Huelva
Just getting started on your wine journey, or jumping back in?
Taste through a selection of a great local wines.
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