The wines of Ribera del Duero !!!

Posted in Europe, Food and Wine, Madrid, Spain

This is a region that needs no introduction been the seconf most famous region for wines in Spain, I came to know the wines here quite early in life, when I started coming to this region with the family several years back, and even before from the Americas seeking their bottles. Therefore, let me tell you about the wines of Ribera del Duero !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

My first ever taste of wine was by my maternal grandmother at my tender age of 8, and of course , it was Spanish wine from Tenerife. Ever since, my love for the drink has increase exponentially to the point of taken professional courses from the ICEX commercial office of Spain, and SOPEXA Food and Wine from France government entities over the years. I have tasted wines from many countries and even visit many wineries. Memories forever !

The Ribera del Duero located in the autonomous community of Castilla y Léon, which has an DO (Denominación de Origen ). Its vineyard, in the area of ​​the Upper Duero Valley, brings together many towns in the provinces of Burgos, Valladolid, Soria and Segovia with a long tradition of wine production. The appellation of origin was approved in 1982. It is located 150 km north of Madrid, and its hillsides extend over 700 meters above sea level over 100 km on either side of the Duero River. With 23 353 hectares, the denominación de origen Ribera del Duero has about 288 bodegas/wineries.  The DO of Ribera del Duero includes these areas and best producers me think, Burgos: Condado de Haza ,Santa Eulalia, and Ismael Arroyo, Valladolid: Bodegas Vega Sicilia ,Castillo de Peñafiel, Emilio Moro ,Matarromera ,Tinto Pesquera, and Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez. Soria: Valdeviñas, and Segovia: Aldekoa, Some of the best known wine towns are: Pesquera de Duero, Quintanilla de Onésimo, Roa, Valbuena de Duero, Sotillo de la Ribera, Aranda de Duero, Peñafiel, and Haza. 

The wines of the D.O. Ribera del Duero are fundamentally red (tintos), although there are also Rosés (rosados). White (blancos) wines are allowed in the DO since 2018, with the Albillo Mayor variety. The most characteristic grape variety is the generically called Tinta del Pais, better known in the world of wine as Tempranillo, which constitutes more than 90% of production. According to the regulations of the Regulatory Council, so that a wine can be hosted by the designation of origin must include at least 75% of Tempranillo in its elaboration. In total, no less than 95% of the grapes must be Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Garnacha and Albillo Mayor grapes are allowed, but in small quantities. The harvest period in Ribera del Duero is usually between the months of September and October. However, it is the Regulatory Council that determines when it starts and ends.  Ribera del Duero wines are offered under five different formulas: Rosé or Rosado, Tinto Joven or young red, Tinto Crianza red, Tinto Reserva red and Tinto Gran Reserva, The Rosados are produced with at least 50% of red grapes and a minimum alcoholic graduation of 11 ° (very cherry pink color, with pink muds strawberry). Tinto Joven ,no barrel breeding or raising less than 12 months (icing red).Tinto Crianza ,aging not less than 24 months, as of October 1 of the year of the harvest and 12 of those months in oak barrel (intense pillory color towards icing with violet nuances).Tinto Reserva aging of 36 months, with a minimum of 12 months in oak barrel (red pillory color to Rubí red). Tinto Gran Reserva, aging of 60 months, with a minimum of 24 months in oak barrel (cherry red). They are very elegant and reveal exceptional aromatic complexity. And appreciated and highly sought after.

Some of my best all time wines and wineries are/were : Bodegas Félix Solis; Altos de Tamaron Reserva 2006, Olmedillo de Roa , province of Burgos. Bodegas Tarsus 1999 from Anguix, province of Burgos. Abadia Retuerta Rivola 1997 Sardón de Duero ,province of Valladolid, Bodega Emilio Moro, Pesquera de Duero, province of Valladolid, Bodegas Ismael Arroyo Val Sotillo1994 Sotillo de la Ribera, province of Burgos, Bodegas Reyes Teofilo Reyes 1994 Peñafiel, province of Valladolid, and Condado de Haza 1994 Roa, province of Burgos.

My latest bottles have been from a French own business Bernard Magrez 100% Tempranillo Juan Rivas.

The official Consejo Regulador,or regultating council of the DO Ribera del Duero: https://riberadelduero.es/la-do-ribera-del-duero/nuestros-vinos

Apolo y Baco is a site, that I have helped input info when it began many years ago, now much better. In Spanish, but you have all info here even contact information for all Bodegas in Spain. The official Apolo y Baco on the Ribera del Duero wines : https://apoloybaco.com/vinos/bodegas-do-ribera-del-duero/

There you go folks, hoping you get a taste of Ribera del Duero wines at least in your next visit to Spain. They are available the world over by now. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the wines of Ribera del Duero !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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