D.O. BULLAS

Bullas is the youngest of the Murcian denominations although it is an old growing area.

The land rises from south to north and has no major valley systems, although there are smaller valleys with their own microclimates. The soil on the slopes tends to be brown and it is so hard that it has to be broken up mechanically before vines can be planted. However, it has workable amounts of limestone or chalk and offers good drainage.

The principal varieties here are, for red wines, Monastrell-over 90% of the vineyards- and, for white wines, Macabeo, although today there is experimentation with everything from Reisling to Syrah and Merlot. The vines' layout varies according to the landscape, and density ranges from 900 to 2,200 vines to the hectare. The vintage usually starts on or about the 15th September.