Toro is a small rural wine region located in northwestern Spain in the Castilla y Leon wine-growing area on the Duero River near to the Portuguese border. The region is named after the city Toro which means "bull" in Spanish and has been a centre of winemaking since before the ancient Romans arrived in the area. Toro is famous for the powerful and dense red wines made from Tempranillo which is locally called Tinta de Toro, consisting more than 90% of the plantings of the region. The climate is continental which means dry, hot summers followed by cold, harsh winters and it's the height that gives the vineyards cool evenings during the summer. Those conditions are producing powerful, high-alcohol with deep dark colour, extract-rich wines reminding of marmalade and capable of several decades ageing, but that doesn't mean they can't be drunk earlier. Usually, the wines of Toro wine region are made only from Tinta de Toro grapes, but when that is not the case it is blended with Garnacha. Other grapes which are planted there with minor quantities are Cabernet Sauvignon, Malvasia and Verdejo for the white grape varieties. Toro has a DO status since 1933, but modern history begins around 1987 and middle 90s with the first export of the Toro wines. Since then the region has been acclaimed for one of the best Spanish wines and is becoming increasingly popular on an international scale.