Ribera
Located in Castilla y Leon in the north of Spain, the best Ribera del Duero wines are some of Spain's most famous vinous exports. Translating as bank of the Duero the region gets its water supply for irrigation from the Duero river, necessary for such a warm area. The region's vineyards are situated on a plateau 800 metres above sea level, and climatic conditions are extreme: sweltering dry summers and very cold winters.
Tempranillo, Spain's most famous red grape, loves this punishing climate and the hot ripening season allows the grape to develop excellent phenolic ripeness, which brings lifted, fragrant aromatics to the finished wines. Vega Sicilia was one of the first to gain global success at the upper end of the market, and its intensely coloured, structured wines with blackberries, dark plums and tobacco have become modern legends. Not surprisingly, other producers now follow their lead and the region is home to some of Spain's most impressive wines.
