Toro is a predominantly red-wine appellation in Castilla y León in north-western Spain. Situated in the province of Zamora, west of the Rueda and Ribera del Duero wine appellations and in the Spanish Duero river valley near the Portuguese border, the Toro appellation covers about 5,600 hectares of vineyards at an altitude of 600 to 750 metres above sea level.
Toro became well known when some of Spain’s better known winemakers including Vega Sicilia's Álvarez family, Rioja's Marqués de Riscal and Mariano García (the former Vega Sicilia winemaker) inveted in it. Jacques and François Lurton of Bordeaux also launched a winery (El Albar) in Toro, plus renowned oenologist Michel Rolland at his Campo Elíseo. Today in Valdefinjas, Rioja's Eguren family of Bodegas Sierra Cantabria has Numanthia-Termes make Termanthia and Numanthia, two of the most well-known wines in Toro.
The region produces red wine across the spectrum from Joven to Gran Reserva. All grades must be made from at least 75 percent Tinta de Toro (the local name for a clone of the Tempranillo red grape). The best reds tend to contain 100 percent Tinta de Toro and are robust and well-structured.
Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted in the region, but not permitted for its DO wines. White wines constitute only a small proportion of Toro production and are made from Malvasía and Verdejo.
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