Bodega Numanthia: Power and complexity from a unique Spanish terroir

History of Bodega Numanthia

Bodega Numanthia is located in the middle of the Toro appellation, in the northwest of Spain. Founded in 1998, it belongs to the LVMH group and is run by Lucas Löwi. However, the winery’s history dates from much further back. The domain’s name comes from the ancient city of Numantia, whose Celtic-Iberian inhabitants resisted the Roman invasion in 134 BC.

Toro’s climatic conditions are extreme: harsh winters and scorching hot summers. The vine stocks resisted the phylloxera epidemic at the end of the 19th century. Recognizing the strength of these lands, the region’s families carefully preserved them.

The Land

The estate stretches across 83 hectares. The only grape variety cultivated is tinto de Toro, from the Tempranillo family. The vines are very old: 40% are more than 70 years of age. In the 4.8-hectare Teso de los Carriles site, vines may be more than 140 years old. Because of the dryness of the summer climate, the vineyard is divided up and vine stocks are spaced out in order to form irregular rows. This planting technique allows the roots to spread out very deeply and to collect the nutrients necessary for their growth.

Iconic Wines

Grapes are meticulously harvested by hand in order to produce wines of the highest quality. Only the best fruit is selected, and the tope cuvées are hand de-stemmed and crushed by foot. The property gives birth to three very different wines: Termes, Numanthia and Termanthia. All, however, are aromatically complex and display a careful balance between rich intensity and freshness.