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BUCRANA WINERY
Bucrana
winery
Bucrana is the most
honest expression of
Tinta de Toro: wines
with soul, power and
elegance that are
born from respect for
the land and tradition
Words: Redacción
Photography: Bodegas Bucrana
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Facade of the winery
In the southeast of Zamora, where the landscape
unfolds in reddish plains dotted with vineyards that
seem to defy time, Bodega Bucrana has been wri-
ting its own legacy since 1997 within the Toro Desig-
nation of Origin. Its story is interwoven with that of Tinta
de Toro, a native grape variety that here is more than just
a grape—it is identity. But what makes this grape unique,
and how does it differ from its more famous relative, Tem-
pranillo? The answer lies in the land, the climate, and its
adaptation.
Tinta de Toro: a clone with character
Tinta de Toro is, in fact, a local biotype of Tempranillo,
Spain’s flagship grape. Genetic studies confirm the con-
nection, but centuries of adaptation to Toro’s extreme
conditions have shaped key differences. While Tempra-
nillo from regions like Rioja or Ribera del Duero develops
thinner skins and ripens early—hence its name—Tinta de
Toro has evolved to thrive in poor soils, enduring freezing
winters and summers that surpass 40°C. Its berries are
smaller, with thicker skins that accumulate a higher con-
centration of polyphenols and sugars, resulting in natura-
lly high-alcohol wines (up to 15%) with powerful yet sur-
prisingly elegant tannins.
This character is heightened in Bucrana’s old vineyards,
where some vines are over a century old and plunge their