The best wines from Ribera del Duero in Spain

The Spanish Ribera del Duero, an extension of the Portuguese Douro Valley, has undergone a spectacular metamorphosis. 30 years ago, there was a single cooperative and a handful of wineries active. Today, there are almost 200 modern Bodegas that produce modern quality wines.

The Bodegas from Ribera del Duero make red wines mainly from Tinta del País (the local clone of Tempranillo), but also from Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Garnacha. They are enjoyed all over the world.

There is a great diversity of terroirs. From chalky slopes along the river to barren, sandy plateaus. As a result, one bottle from Ribera del Duero is not the same as the other. An Eldorado for small wineries that want to make quality wines with a very unique character.

The grapes are harvested early because of the abundant sunshine. In Castilla y León, the region to which Ribera del Duero belongs, the winemakers let the wine mature in oak for a shorter period than elsewhere in Spain. As a result, they are somewhat darker in colour, softer and have somewhat sweeter tannins than most wines from Rioja, for example.