Castilla‑La Mancha launches first Airén grape festival

The town of Campo de Criptana in Castilla‑La Mancha hosted the inaugural "Day of Airén" festival, organized by the Denominación de Origen La Mancha. The event featured wine tastings, educational sessions and cultural activities aimed at promoting the Airén grape, which covers more than 200,000 hectares and is the most planted variety in Europe.

A separate feature highlighted five notable white wines from the region, focusing on the Vallegarcia winery in Retuerta del Bullaque. Owned by businessman Alfonso Cortina, Vallegarcia cultivates vineyards at 850‑900 m altitude, employs modern winemaking facilities, and produces varieties such as Viognier alongside traditional reds. The winery’s emphasis on quality and terroir underscores the growing reputation of Castilla‑La Mancha’s white wines.