Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero is a Denominación de Origen (DO) for wine located in the northern plateau of Castile and León, Spain. It is one of the country’s most prestigious wine regions, renowned for red wines based predominantly on the Tempranillo grape, locally known as Tinto Fino or Tinta del País.[1]
Background
The DO Ribera del Duero was formally recognised in 1982, though viticulture in the region dates back at least to Roman times.[2] Medieval monasteries played a central role in maintaining and developing vine cultivation, and by the late 19th century the region was already producing wines of notable quality. Modern fame grew with the establishment of leading bodegas in the mid-20th century, most famously Vega Sicilia.[3]
Characteristics
The Ribera del Duero region stretches along the Duero River for around 115 km, covering parts of Burgos, Valladolid, Soria, and Segovia. The climate is continental with marked temperature extremes—hot summers, cold winters, and significant diurnal shifts. These conditions, combined with high-altitude vineyards (750–1,000 m), contribute to wines with intense fruit, firm structure, and pronounced ageing potential.[4]
Tempranillo accounts for more than 90% of plantings, with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Garnacha also authorised. White varieties are largely absent, though limited production of rosado exists.[5]
Use in winemaking
Ribera del Duero wines are classified according to Spain’s national ageing categories: Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. The wines are typically deep in colour, with aromas of dark berries, spice, and sometimes tobacco or leather. High-quality examples are noted for their balance of fruit concentration, acidity, and oak influence, allowing them to mature gracefully for decades.[6]
Oak maturation, traditionally in American oak but increasingly in French oak, is a defining element of style. While the region is dominated by structured red wines, modern winemaking has introduced greater stylistic diversity, ranging from powerful, full-bodied expressions to fresher, more fruit-driven interpretations.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Robinson (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Wine, Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.
- ↑ Consejo Regulador DO Ribera del Duero, “La Denominación de Origen Ribera del Duero”, www.riberadelduero.es.
- ↑ Stevenson, The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia, 5th ed., DK, 2011, ISBN 978-0756686840.
- ↑ Johnson & Robinson, The World Atlas of Wine, 8th ed., Mitchell Beazley, 2019, ISBN 978-1784724030.
- ↑ Ministerio de Agricultura (MAPA), “Denominación de Origen Ribera del Duero”, mapa.gob.es.
- ↑ Robinson (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Wine, 2015, ISBN 978-0198705383.
- ↑ Johnson & Robinson, The World Atlas of Wine, 2019.