The best Ribera del Duero wines

A wine region making a strong rise in prominence in the last few decades is Ribera del Duero. Here, too, there is a long tradition of winemaking, but the arrival of French monks in the 12th century has done much to introduce the techniques still used to this day.

The area is characterised as a vast, level terrain following the river Douro. The climate here is less moderate than in the Rioja, and therefore has more extremes. The terroir is markedly different. But other than that, the areas are much alike, for instance, they use the same classifications, and here too, wines are made that need a long maturation. Tempranillo is the main red grape for this area.

The most famous wine domain from Spain, Vega Sicilia, is located in the Ribera del Duero.