The VCIG(quality wine) area for white, rosé and red wines is located around the eponymous municipality of Benavente (Zamora province) in the Spanish region of Castilla y León. The former country wine area was classified in 2005. The vineyards cover around 360 hectares of vines. The white wine varieties Verdejo and Malvasía Castellana (Síria) are permitted, as well as the red wine varieties Tempranillo, Prieto Picudo, Mencía, Garnacha Tinta and Cabernet Sauvignon. Due to the climatic and geological conditions, artificial irrigation is partly necessary. The maximum permitted yields are 7,000 kg/ha for the red wine varieties and a maximum of 9,000 kg/ha for the white wine varieties. The alcohol content must be at least 11% vol. for white and rosé wines, as well as 11.5% for red wines and 12% for Reserva and Gran Reserva.
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