Ribera del Duero
The region of Ribera del Duero is located southwest of Rioja and is one of Spain’s top red wine-producing regions, with vineyards covering an area of over 24,000 ha in central northern Spain. A significant percentage of these vines are older than 50 years old, and some of the vines are grown at altitudes that exceed 1000m, making them some of the highest vineyards in the northern hemisphere. The DO classification of Ribera del Duero was granted in 1982 and since then, there has been an invasion of investors, keen to transform often highly unsuitable parts of this high plateau into profitable wine production centres.
The region experiences extreme weather conditions of extremely hot, dry summers and long, harsh winters, low rainfall and large variations in daily temperatures, regularly 25 degrees or more. This results in the extraordinary quality of small grapes with thick skins that have benefitted from an optimal slow and late ripening period.
Tempranillo is the main red grape grown (known as Tinto Fino and Tinta del Pais locally), however, there are also plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Garnacha Tinta which can be blended with Tempranillo in small proportions in the red Ribera del Duero wines. Most vines are harvested by hand allowing for the prioritising of quality over quantity.
Some of the most famous producers in this region include Vega Sicilia (first established in the late 19th century) and Pesquera (established in the mid-1980s). Pesquera’s modern style of bottling the wine after just three or four years in the barrel is a style that has been adopted by most winemakers and produces a lively, fresh, fruity style of wine more in line with today’s wine drinkers’ demands.
History
Around 480 BC – remnants of winemaking were found at the Vacceo site of Pintia and the Roman mosaic of Baños de Valdearados – over 2,500 years ago!
13th century: the first wineries were excavated inside some houses. Wine and vineyards became a fundamental part of the cultural and economic development of the Ribera region; so much so, that production increased, local trade intensified and exports to the rest of Castile began.
15th century: the Ordinances of Castile were created, which established measures relating to the control of production, trade and other fiscal measures
21 July 1982: the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food granted Ribera del Duero the status of D.O. and approved its first Regulations.
The Ribera Del Duero Wine Growing Area
- 24,014 hectares split into 60,219 plots
- 23% of our vineyards are older than 50 years, and 10% are older than 80 years
- Nearly 8,000 vine growers and over 300 winemakers
- In some areas altitudes exceed 1,000m above sea level, some of the highest in the northern hemisphere
The Terroir
The vineyards are located in the great northern sub-plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, a great ancient plinth that has been levelled and partly covered by tertiary sediments, with altitudes of between 720 and 1,100 metres above sea level
This soil has exceptional characteristics made up of layers of clay and sand alternating with layers of limestone and calcareous concretions, on which vines are rooted to produce the highest quality fruit. These soils bring maturity and sweetness.
Clay
Formed by fine reddish-brown grains that retain water, these soils provide structure and character.
Stony
Rocks of all sizes, with no water retention.
Limestone
Rich in calcareous salts and which are white in colour, these dry and arid limestone soils bring elegance and complexity.
Climate
Mediterranean climate, with a continental influence
Extreme weather conditions - dry summers, long and harsh winters, low rainfall (400 - 500 mm/year) along with marked variations in daily temperatures (from -20°C to +42°C)
This results in grapes of extraordinary quality - small in size, with thick skins, that have benefited from an optimal slow and late ripening period.
Grapes
Tempranillo is the main variety and gives red wines their characteristic colour, aroma, and body.
It is also known as Tinto Fino and Tinta del País in Spain.
Other varieties grown are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Garnacha Tinta
The main authorised white grape variety is Albillo Mayor
Harvest is predominantly carried out by hand in Ribera del Duero (80% of the grapes are hand-harvested), as wineries and winegrowers prioritise the quality of the grapes over the quantity.
Click here to view our wines of Ribera Del Duero