The Meseta Central is Spain’s vast, high-elevation interior plateau, where intense sunlight, low rainfall, hot days, and cold nights create large temperature swings that help grapes ripen while retaining acidity. Its principal wine areas include Castilla y León in the north, home to Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, and Cigales, and Castilla-La Mancha in the south, including La Mancha, Valdepeñas, Manchuela, and Almansa.