Bullas wines received well-deserved recognition when they were granted, in 1994, the Denomination of Origin, thus acquiring obvious advantages for the producers and industrialists involved, opening wide possibilities for commercialization and the opening of new markets.
The wine production area is located in the northwestern part of the province of Murcia, comprising land in the municipalities of Bullas, Ricote, Lorca, Moratalla, Mula, Cehegin, Caravaca de la Cruz, and Calasparra, though having the name of Bullas, for having kept wine activity ongoing for centuries.
Millennial origin
Certainly, Bullas existed and there was winemaking under the Roman occupation. The archaeological evidence, consisting mainly of wine containers from that time, is significant. Also, during the Arab presence, Bullas maintained important agricultural activity, which expanded after the reconquest in the 13th century, making wines for commercialization.
Wine sub-areas
Already in the 20th century, the high production of wine from the territories that today constitute the Denomination of Origin encouraged investment in making high-quality wines. Studies, plans, and the development of activities that led to success were carried out. The production territory was divided into three sub-areas based on soil type, rainfall, and climate.
The first includes approximately 52% of the vineyards. It comprises the most excellent production area for the high quality of the wines obtained.
It is located between 500 and 810 meters above sea level and includes the Bullas and Cehegin municipalities, as well as a good part of the territories of the Moratalla, Caravaca de la Cruz, and Lorca municipalities. The production of this western and northwestern subzone is close to 45 hectolitres per hectare.
The second subzone, identified as Central, encompasses 40% of the Denomination of Origin area. It is located at between 500 and 600 meters of altitude and comprises territories of the municipalities of Mula, Cehegin, and Bullas. It registers a production that fluctuates between 13 and 25 hectolitres per hectare.
The third subzone, called North - Northwest, comprises only 8% of the Denomination of Origin territory and is located between 400 and 500 meters above sea level, including areas of the territories of Calasparra, Bullas, Ricote, and Mula. Production is between 5 and 13 hectolitres per hectare.
High-quality wines
The Denomination of Origin area supports very hot summers, although it receives frost and very strong winds sporadically between the months of September and April. Torrential rains also occur, frequently in September and October.
It should be noted that of the total cultivated area, over 85% of the vineyards cultivate the Monastrell grape. Its intense purplish-blue clusters with medium grains give Bullas wines body, aroma, and flavour. It is a wine with personality that, through the Regulatory Council of the Designation of Origin, is guaranteed to be of high quality. This designation offers protection, as it inhibits the incorporation of other grape varieties into the vineyards, as well as registers and supervises the wineries that bottle the wines and governs its commercialization.
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