Tempranillo here is very different from other regions in Spain.
Home to Tempranillo
King of Grapes
Primary Grape: Tempranillo
Also called Tinta del País or Tinto Fino
blackberry bramble, dried fig, vanilla and cassis create complex wines with aging structure.
Secondary Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Garnacha Tinta. The main authorized white grape variety is the Albillo Mayor.
Spain’s Most Exclusive Red Wines
Strength, Richness and Luxurious
Tempranillo grapes in Ribera are smaller berries with thicker skins, darker color and acidity resulting in more complex wines with balance, dark fruits and aging structure. Its texture has an equal range, spanning from light to full-bodied. Younger Crianzas, usually don’t possess the greater depth as the longer-aged Reservas or Gran Reservas who see more time in bottle and barrel before release.
Here’s how Styles Breakdown:
Crianza – muscular fruit flavors, structured red wines
Reserva – great potential to develop over time, age brings complexity
Gran Reserva – richer, more elegant, luxurious and very complex
Cosecha – wild card, can be traditional or modern
Lookalike Regions – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Piedmont, Napa
Standard of Excellence
Consejo Regulador
The back label is a seal of identity that guarantees the product’s provenance and that it has fulfilled the quality standards rigorously established by the Regulatory Board
CRIANZA – 1+ year(s) in barrel
RESERVA – 1+ years in barrel; 2+ years in bottle
GRAN RESERVA – 2+ years in barrel; 3+ in bottle
COSECHA – Wines that don’t meet the traditional criteria, but often exceed classification requirements
Ribera del Duero D.O.
Denominación de Origen 1982
- Winemaking dates back 2,000+ years.
- Ribera is home to the most exclusive red wines in Spain coveted by collectors the world over.
- Over a third of the vines are +45 years old, with an additional 10% of vines 80+ years old.
- Most bodegas train vines in a classic goblet or bush style best suited for dry farming areas with high heat and low rainfall.
- Castles dominate the landscape, mimicking the strength, richness and luxurious structure of the wines.
Land of Lions & Castles
Get to Know Rueda
Winemaking began in Rueda around 1,000 years ago
Diligence is the mother of good fortune”
Chapter XLIII, Part II, Miguel de Cervantes
