Region: Over the past 30 years, the AOC Ribera del Duero has constantly strived to become the best wine region in Spain. Located on the northern Spanish plateau, it encompasses four provinces of Castile and Leon: Burgos, Segovia, Soria and Valladolid. Despite its name, it does not cover the entire Duero River which connects more than 100 localities. The AOC Ribera del Duero was granted in 1982. Today it includes more than 250 wineries and 22 ha of vineyards. The production of Ribera del Duero consists mainly of red wines but also of certain rosé wines. No white wine is yet included in the AOC, but it would be soon. The region is characterized by largely flat and rocky terrain.
Tasting Notes: Bright ruby red color with an intense bouquet of toasted spices, including cloves and cinnamon, combined with delicate aromas of chocolate and ripe black fruit. On the palate, the same characteristics persist and the wine is juicy and fruity with ripe and well integrated tannins, medium body and a lingering, velvety and subtly spicy finish.
Pairings: Ideal with a lamb tagine (with fresh dates and cinnamon), game or beef served with potatoes.
Technical information: The grape is carefully selected before the maceration process for a period of 2 days. Fermentation at a controlled temperature (25ºC-28ºC) allows optimal expression of the grape variety. Finally, the wine ages for 14 months in American oak barrels before bottling. The bottles then age for 9 months.
Tasting tips: between 16ºC and 17ºC