OVER 2000 YEARS OF WINEMAKING HISTORY
Spain’s Most Prestigious
Regions for Red and White Wine
Ribera Del Duero
Land of Castles & Tempranillo
“Diligence is the mother of good fortune” – Chapter XLIII, Part II, Miguel de Cervantes
This quote from Castilla y León’s most famous author could be applied to many things, but perhaps no more so than to the wine region of Ribera del Duero, two hours north of Madrid. Located within Castilla y León – Spain’s largest autonomous region – it is home to more than 300 wineries and 2,300 labels, all of which have an almost singular focus: tempranillo.
Rueda is Verdejo Country
Spain’s #1 White Wine & Best Kept Secret
A 100-mile journey on the A-6 north from Madrid, Rueda is a vast expanse of lime-rich alluvial soils and in much of it, stones and pebbles – lots of pebbles. It is part of Castilla y León, Spain’s largest region and Europe’s third. The prime grape of the region is Verdejo, to which about 40,000 acres of vineyards are dedicated.
Most of the vineyards are planted south of the Duero River. Because Rueda sits at an altitude of about 800 meters (2400 feet), and because of its location distant from any cooling sea breezes, it is an arid landscape that nevertheless plays host to oases of verdant vineyards throughout.
Ribera del Duero and Rueda are located in Castilla y León (two hours northwest of Madrid), home to more than 300 medieval castles dating to the eight and ninth centuries.
The flag of Castilla y León bears images of castles and lions – the coat of arms commissioned by leaders centuries ago.
Wines in Ribera del Duero are majestic like the castles that dominate the landscape, mimicking the strength, richness and structure.
Rueda is the region with the most female winemakers in Spain. The white wines are graceful, majestic, and feminine like the lioness.
Wines in Rueda are grown in rocky, lime-rich sandy clay soils challenged by the region’s extreme growing conditions.
Ribera del Duero is home to a very distinctive style of Tempranillo called “Tinto Fino” due to extreme growing conditions.
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