Ribera del Duero

The Ribera Del Duero designation of origin, established in 1982, is located in the Douro River basin, south of the province of Burgos (autonomous region of Castile and León), on the great plateau of northern Spain.

The soils of the Ribera Del Duero wine region consist mainly of sandy and silty sediments alternating with layers of limestone and marl concretions. The topography is relatively flat, with the vineyards located between 750 and 850 meters above sea level, and a few hills reaching heights of nearly 900 meters. The Ribera Del Duero region is influenced by both continental and Mediterranean climates: rainfall is moderate, forcing the vines to sink their roots deep into the soil, with temperatures ranging from -18°C in winter to over 40°C in summer.

Tempranillo, Spain's leading grape variety, is used extensively in the production of Ribera Del Duero wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Grenache Noir, and Albillo are also grown. The vast majority of wines produced are red, with a small proportion of rosés. They belong to four distinct classes depending on how they are aged: Joven, Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva. The Ribera Del Duero designation of origin produces some of Spain's finest wines, including undoubtedly the most famous and sought-after of them all: Pingus, from Bodega Dominio de Pingus. Other producers are equally worthy of the appellation's reputation, such as Bodegas Lara Ortiz, Bodega Montecastro, Bodega Vega Sicilia and Bodega Valtravieso.