by Philip Amps
I attended a Ribera del Duero Masterclass with Tim Aitken in London recently. Tasting wines and discussing the region with other
Independent Merchants.
The wine region sits on the Duoro River that flows all the way to Oporto in Portugal and out to sea. The region is half the size of Rioja its neighbour and a lot higher in altitude and a much more marginal climate for growing grapes. Very cold winters and very hot summers with tiny amounts of rainfall, produces a very small growing window. Rainfall is a real issue and very unusually irrigation is allowed although not all producers take advantage of this.
The main grape variety is Tempranillo with International varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec allowed plus some other indigenous varieties mixed in. Yields are generally very small, which produces very concentrated and powerful wines. For such a small wine region and with such difficult growing conditions, it is a major surprise that there are such Iconic Producers as Vega Sicilia and Pesquera and there wines are sought all over the world by collectors.
There are some exceptional value wines around the £15 -£25 a bottle and spending £50 a bottle gets you something world class, these are not everyday prices and neither are the wines. If you like bold and intense wines, then give the wines of Ribera a try!
