Did you know that…

“The DO Málaga, which has its origins in 1833, is one of the oldest in Europe”

For centuries Malaga has been a land of wines. In almost all its regions there are important oenological references, whether sweet, white, red, rosé or even sparkling. A good part of these wines are included within the two existing designations of origin. The Málaga Denomination of Origin, one of the oldest in Europe, has its origins in 1833. It was created to protect the prestigious wines of that time. Today they protect so-called still wines, which are made without added alcohol. Among them, we must differentiate between two types of sweets, those that come from overripe grapes and those that are made with raisined grapes.

Also included here are dry wines (with at least 15 degrees of alcohol) and liqueur wines, which are made by adding wine alcohol to the must during fermentation in order to stop it. The result can be dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet or sweet. For its part, the Sierras de Málaga Denomination of Origin protects still wines that have an alcohol content that is between 10 and 15.5 degrees. This includes both whites, reds and rosé wines. According to their aging process, these wines can be classified as crianzas (minimum of two years, with 6 months in oak barrels), reserves (minimum of 3 years, with 12 months in oak barrels), gran reserves (minimum of 5 years, with 24 months in oak barrels and 36 months in bottle), or gran reserves for whites and rosés (minimum of 5 years, with 6 months in oak barrels).

• Grapes

The Málaga Designation of Origin (D.O.) protects wines primarily made from the white grape varieties Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel. In contrast, the Sierras de Málaga D.O. encompasses a wider range of grapes. Alongside the white varieties Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel de Alejandría, there are also Moscatel Morisco, Chardonnay, Macabeo, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc: Lairen and Doradilla, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Verdejo, and Viognier; as well as red varieties: Romé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Graciano, Malbec, Monastrell, and Tintilla (Tintilla de Rota).

Certification by the Regulatory Council of these denominations ensures traceability of origin, compliance with production processes, and adherence to product specifications outlined in the regulatory documents. This verification grants viticulturists or winemakers the right to use the Designation of Origin.

• Regions

The production areas of the Málaga and Sierras de Málaga designations of origin cover practically 80 percent of the province's territory. Specifically, it is made up of 67 municipalities located in five well-differentiated geographical areas: Axarquía, Montes de Málaga, Málaga Norte, Manilva and Serranía de Ronda. Each of these areas is differentiated not only by having a specific soil and orography but also by having different weather conditions. Wines with DO Sierras de Málaga that are made in the Serranía de Ronda, when the grapes are from there, may carry that name as a subzone.

• Origin

The first Malaga wines may have had their precedents in the vineyards that the Phoenicians cultivated during their raids on the Malaga coast. But, it is not until Roman times, when the importance of wine is confirmed. A good example are the grapes represented in the ruins of Acinipo in Ronda or a fermentation tank found in Cartama, which corroborate the existence of Vinum Malacita. During ancient Al-Andalus, despite the Koranic prohibition on consuming alcohol, this drink continued to be produced, known at that time as 'Xarab Al Malaquí'.

• Properties

Wine, taken in moderation (one glass a day for women and two for men), can have positive effects on the body. Among other benefits, the best known are related to the heart, since it is an excellent ally to increase the level of good cholesterol and, at the same time, prevents certain cardiovascular pathologies. In addition, one of its components, resveratrol, could serve to block the growth of cells responsible for breast cancer. In the case of men, it is also useful in reducing the risk of lung cancer, especially among smokers.

• Sweet wines

Within the DO Málaga, sweet wines can be of three types depending on the alcohol added to the must: Natural, with fresh grape must –fermentation is stopped with wine alcohol-; master, alcohol is added to fresh grape must before fermenting; and tender, which uses sunny grapes that give rise to musts with a high sugar content (Fermentation is stopped with the addition of wine alcohol). Depending on its aging, sweet wine can be pale, with aging for up to 6 months; noble, 2 to 3 years; aged, 3 to 5 years; and transportation, more than 5 years.