Located in the South Eastern portion of Spain, Jumilla represents the northern part of the province of Murcia and extends into Castilla Lamancha, the former includes a long Mediterranean shoreline and is well known as a prolific area for growing fruit and vegetable. Jumilla is one of only 3 D.O.’s in Spain to be regulated by the Agriculture Ministry and not by regional authorities.
The Vineyards of Jumilla are located in the eastern part of the Baetic Mountains, 80 km from the Mediterranean and at a height of 600 m above sea level, Jumilla boasts a continental Mediterranean climate which is semi-arid in nature. It also has a very irregular rainfall of about 300 liters a year, mostly in spring and autumn. It is sometimes torrential and often falls with hailstones.
Vines have been grown in the Jumilla area since Roman times. When phylloxera hit much of France and Europe, Jumilla, largely unaffected received a huge boost as exports of wines and must, greatly enriching the local wine industry. Demarcated in 1966, Jumilla is one of the oldest Spanish D.O.’s.
Like the south-east of the peninsula, Jumilla is an area which is subject to a complex climate with notable harsh contrasts. The main climatic factors that make up the weather in Jumilla are directly influenced by the Azores High, its proximity to North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea and the effect of the North Atlantic Polar Front. The shortage of rainfall throughout the year is its main characteristic, being particularly scarce during summer. There is a gradient in which the continental features go from higher to lower in the direction from north to south, and north-west to south-east. The effect of these continental features is accentuated by the layout of the orographic barriers which affect the penetration of the mild winds coming from the Mediterranean coast. It has a dry microclimate with many days of wind and sun.
There are many sharp changes in temperature, which goes between the highest (summer, up to 45° C) and the lowest (winter, down to -5° C). This drop in temperature is also brusque between day and night. In summer, there can be temperature differences of up to 20° C. The variations in altitude, latitude, the leeward or windward exposure of the mountain ranges, vegetation and so forth are factors which cause variations in the different areas of the municipality.
Several time cycles and some incidence of flooding from the sea, together with the landscape of the highlands of Jumilla have created soil which is outstanding for growing wine grape vines. They are chalky soils with low organic matter and good surface drainage, but with enough water retention down deep. Soil with a good deal of moisture and quite absorbent, which allows it to sustain the vines in periods of prolonged drought making the most of the little water available. It has a loamy to loamy-sandy texture.
The principal grape variety is Monastrell which ripens in summer temperatures of about 40﮲C with average yields of 12-15 hl/ha (.7-.8 tones/acre). There are nine total red and seven total white varieties authorized, though Monastrell accounts for 80% of plantings.