Ribera del Duero

The Ribera Del Duero denomination of origin, established in 1982, is located in the Douro river basin, south of the province of Burgos (autonomous region of Castilla y León), on the great plateau of northern Spain.

The soils of the Ribera Del Duero terroir consist mainly of sandy and silty sediments with alternating layers of limestone and marl concretions. The topography is relatively flat, placing the vineyards between 750 and 850m above sea level, with a few hills rising to almost 900m. The Ribera Del Duero region is influenced by a climate that is both continental and Mediterranean: rainfall remains 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 king grape variety, is largely responsible for making Ribera Del Duero wines. Other varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Grenache noir and Albillo. The wines produced are predominantly red, with a small proportion of rosés. They belong to 4 distinct classes, depending on their ageing: Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. The Ribera Del Duero denomination of origin produces some of Spain's finest wines, including certainly the most famous and prized: Pingus, from Bodega Dominio de Pingus. Other producers, such as Bodegas Lara Ortiz, Bodega Montecastro, Bodega Vega Sicilia and Bodega Valtravieso, also match the appellation's qualities.