The high altitude, great plain of La Mancha, to the south of Madrid and east of Toledo, represents the largest viticultural area of Spain. The climate is arid, extreme in both summer and winter, tempered by strong prevailing winds. The widely planted white Arien grape variety is slowly losing favour to Tempranillo, Shiraz and Garnacha and the old wineries are giving way to gleaming modern facilities heralding a revolution for the region`s winemaking.