Ribera del Duero

Over the past decades, Ribera del Duero has rapidly ascended to rival Rioja as Spain's preeminent wine region. Formerly renowned solely as the home of Vega Sicilia which holds the mantle as Spain's greatest winery, it now showcases a multitude of distinguished bodegas, including Dominio del Aguila, Alión, and Hacienda Monasterio. Designated as a Denominación de Origen (DO) in 1982, when just nine bodegas were in operation, the region has burgeoned to encompass over 200 wineries and more than 20,000 hectares of vineyards. Primarily focused on red wine production, Ribera del Duero yields only a modest amount of rosé and white wine.

Ribera del Duero's History:

Ribera del Duero's early winemaking history traces back to the Roman Empire. However, it wasn't until the 1980s that the region gained international recognition for its wines. Since then, Ribera del Duero has continued to grow and thrive, producing wines of exceptional quality and complexity.

The region's signature grape variety is the Tempranillo, also known locally as Tinta del País. This grape grows exceptionally well in Ribera del Duero's extreme climate, yielding wines that are full-bodied, deeply coloured, and rich in tannins. Other grape varieties grown in the region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, which provide added depth and complexity to the wines.

Ribera del Duero's strict wine production regulations ensure that only the highest quality wines are produced. To be designated a Ribera del Duero wine, the grapes must be grown within the confines of the region and meet specific criteria regarding grape varieties, vineyard management, and winemaking practices. Additionally, there are four classifications of Ribera del Duero wines: joven, crianza, reserva, and gran reserva. These classifications correspond to the minimum amount of time the wine has spent ageing, with the gran reserva category requiring the longest ageing period.

Vega Sicilia Unico:

One of Ribera del Duero's most prominent wineries is Vega Sicilia, founded in 1864. The winery's flagship wine, Unico, is considered one of the world's greatest wines, renowned for its complexity, structure, and longevity. The winery also produces several other exceptional wines, including Valbuena and Pintia.

Dominio del Aguila

Dominio del Aguila produced some of the finest wines in all of Spain. Their reds compete with the likes of Vega Sicilia Unico and Pingus, whilst their white is harder to track down than Le Montnrachet from DRC and their rose reinvented the category by adding structure and some tannins.