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Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero lies on the plateau of Castilla y León, along the river Duero. The vineyards lie at over eight hundred metres; the wide gap between day and night temperatures slows ripening. Tempranillo is known here as tinto fino or tinta del país.
Our range includes wines from Ribera del Duero by producers including Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Aalto and Pago de los Capellanes. If you would like to explore Spain further, you will also find Rioja, Penedès and Priorat in our range.
Grape and style
Ribera del Duero is the domain of tempranillo, here often called tinto fino or tinta del país. The wines are dark in colour, concentrated and powerful, with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberries, spice, vanilla and cedar. Thanks to the extreme temperature differences, the grapes retain plenty of acidity, which gives the wine structure and freshness. Compared with Rioja, the style is generally fuller, darker and somewhat less elegant, with more emphasis on fruit and power than on aged, oak-driven notes.
Location and soil
The area lies in Castilla y León, on the high plateau along the river Duero, in the provinces of Burgos and Valladolid, among others. The vineyards lie at altitude, so the climate is continental with hot, dry summers and cold winters. In autumn it cools sharply at night, which slows the ripening of the grapes and preserves the aromas. The soil consists of a mix of chalk, clay and sand, with old vines that root deeply.
Classification and rules
Ribera del Duero is a DO (Denominación de Origen). As in Rioja, the ageing categories Joven or Roble, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva are used, which say something about the time spent in oak barrels and in the bottle before the wine is sold. The higher the category, the longer the ageing. Most wines are made entirely or largely from tempranillo, sometimes supplemented with cabernet sauvignon or merlot, among others. For a comparison with the neighbouring region, see Rioja.
Ageing and serving
The better Ribera del Duero can age for decades, during which the wine becomes softer and develops notes of leather, tobacco and dried fruit. Young wines benefit from decanting. Serve at 16 to 18 °C. The wine pairs excellently with grilled and roast meat, such as lamb, traditionally from the wood-fired oven in Spain, and with chorizo, stews and mature sheep’s cheese such as manchego.
Producers in our range
These producers feature in our Ribera del Duero range: Vega Sicilia (Único, Único Reserva Especial, Valbuena 5° and Alión), Pingus (Flor de Pingus), Aalto (PS) and Pago de los Capellanes.