Ribera del Duero

The Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin, established in 1982, is located in the Douro River basin, in the southern part of the province of Burgos (Autonomous Community 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 interspersed with layers of limestone and marl concretions. The topography is relatively flat, with vineyards situated at altitudes between 750 and 850 meters; the few hills in the area can reach heights of nearly 900 meters. The Ribera del Duero region is influenced by both a continental and a Mediterranean climate: rainfall is moderate, forcing the vines to send their roots deep into the soil, with temperature ranges that can go from -18°C in winter to over 40°C in summer.

Tempranillo, Spain’s premier grape variety, is the primary component in the production of Ribera del Duero wines. Other grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Grenache Noir, and Albillo. The vast majority of the wines produced are red, with only a tiny fraction being rosé. They are classified into four distinct categories based on their aging: 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 highly prized among them: Pingus, from Bodega Dominio de Pingus. Other producers also uphold the appellation’s high standards, such as Bodegas Lara Ortiz, Bodega Montecastro, Bodega Vega Sicilia, and Bodega Valtravieso.