The Grapes of Spain: Touring the Ribera del Duero Wine Region

With over 250 wineries, the rural Ribera del Duero in central Spain is one of the world’s celebrated wine regions. Specializing in fragrant, robust Tinto Fino red wines, Ribera del Duero lies north of Madrid along the Duero River and is home to the Tempranillo grape.

Unlike the Napa Valley or other temperate wine regions, Ribera del Duero’s weather ranges from harsh winters to warm summers. With these temperature extremes, high altitude, and limestone soil, the region creates red wines as brazen and unique as the land that grows the grapes.

The region has been making wine since the Roman era, but the world did not discover Ribera del Duero until the late 20^th Century. The main wine of the region is the bold, intense Tinto Fino, but Ribera del Duero also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and Malbec. Winemakers delight in blending their reds, and you can expect any Ribera del Duero wine to have strong fruit flavors and distinct woody notes. To complement these aromatic reds, you’ll find the simple, delicious cuisine you would expect in a rural region, such as rich cheeses, stews, and roast lamb.

When you visit the wineries of Ribera del Duero, you’ll enjoy the architecture and history of the area. The region straddles four historic Spanish provinces: Valladolid, Soria, Segovia, and Burgos, and you’ll see castles, Roman ruins, and medieval churches as you journey through the vineyards and the charming villages that surround them.

The region’s most famous winery is the Vega Sicilia, which was founded in 1864 and makes the complex aged Unico wine. The small, family-owned Emilio Moro winery has also been making wine for over 100 years. Other exclusive wineries to look out for include Aalto, Hacienda Monasterio, and Viña Sastre. Alejandro Fernández makes the renowned Tinto Pesquero, and the winery at Pingus is said to resemble a pink flying saucer.

Abadia Retuerta is a fascinating confluence of history and contemporary winemaking. The winery was established in 1996, and a spectacular 12^th Century monastery sits on the property. The monastery was founded in 1145 by the daughter of the Lord of Valladolid, and wine tasting takes place in the monks’ dining quarters.

Red wine lovers could not find a more enchanting region, with more multi-dimensional wine, than Ribera del Duero. With its stunning architecture, lovely villages, and hearty cuisine, the region is the perfect getaway for the wine connoisseur.

Have you ever been wine tasting in Spain?