The ancient settlers of Ribera del Duero already knew that in this unique land something unique grows.
Wine and vineyards have formed a part of the culture and the people that lived in the heart of Ribera del Duero for ages. In our Ribera del Duero Wine Tour you will learn about how the Phoenicians, through their merchants, introduced in the Iberian peninsula the most advanced techniques for cultivating and producing grapes and wine, and even the best strains for the climate and land.
Several centuries later, the Romans discovered the wines of Spain, much later the wines from Ribera del Duero were used to supply their armies. Today you can find in the zone roman mosaics with ornamental motifs representing Bacchus, this indicates that the richness of the land and its potential for making high quality wines was already known 2000 years ago. Monastic orders were extended all over the territory after the 10th-century spreading the culture of wine and in the 12th century the monks made their own wines in Valbuena del Duero.
In 1295 the harvest started to be regulated and since the 15th century production and quality of wine has been controlled.
Aranda del Duero is known for their underground wineries that make up a network of 7 kilometers of tunnels and galleries excavated between the 12th and 18th Century located in the historic center of the city which during the last decade have developed several activities related to wine tourism.
People started talking about the potential of the wine region in 1975. The creation of this denomination of origin would not have been possible without the work of the Manager of Vega Sicilia and the manager and owner of Torremilanos amongst other people.
The next step was achieving temporary recognition in 1979 of Ribera del Duero denomination of origin that was made permanent in 1982.
The original name of Ribera del Duero belonged to a winery called Protos and was the name of the winery since its creation in 1927, when the regulatory council was founded, Ribera del Duero Winery changes its name to Protos Winery, the brand name of its main wine, and allowed the regulatory council to use its original name.
The regulatory council was originally established in the city of Aranda del Duero and later moved to the city of Roa. From that moment on, it has worked to obtain and maintain a wine quality that is recognized nationally and internationally.
From that time until today, the connection between wine and the people from the heart of Ribera del Duero has remained inseparable.

The hours in the heart of Ribera del Duero go by with no rush, time is determined by the new harvest. Climate, soil, expert hands, maximum care and dedication, are many of the factors that are involved in the creation of a Ribera del Duero wine. The time to harvest in Ribera del Duero varies and depends upon several variables every year. The date is set after taking samples from the fields and tasting the grapes to determine when it has reached its optimal ripeness. Optimal ripeness is achieved the moment that the amount of sugar stops increasing and acidity has decreased as much as possible.
March to November is the best time to come for the Ribera del Duero Wine Tour, but we recommend the first half of October because that is when the harvest begins with the harvesting of the white grapes and the first red grapes.
For those who own vineyards in the area, harvest time turns into a bustling activity where all family members take part. The transportation as well as the condition of the grapes also affects the quality of the must. Grapes should not suffer and arrive at the winery as whole as possible without damage. Before introducing the grapes into the deposits the regulatory council of Ribera del Duero does some basic controls. The inspector weighs the amount of grape in each tractor and measures the alcohol level. Besides inspecting in the field the Regulatory Council also checks in the winery. Wineries possess a digital card, known as intelligent winemakers card in which the amount of grapes per hectare is specified in order to make sure that the grapes come from his vineyards and guarantee the rigorous control that certify that it’s a grape that comes from Ribera del Duero.

Wines from the denomination of origin of Ribera del Duero are fundamentally red even though there are also Rosés.
In our Ribera del Duero Wine Tour you will learn that the most common grape variety is known generically as Tinta del Pais and in the world of wine as Tempranillo, and that it is more than 90% of production. According to the denomination of origin in order for a wine to be considered part of Ribera del Duero it has to contain at least 75% of Tempranillo. In total at least 95% of grapes must be Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
 Garnacha and Albillo, the only white grape allowed, can be added in very small quantities.
In order to ensure maximum quality of the grapes total harvest is limited to 7,000 kg per Hectare.

Classes of wines produced in Ribera del Duero are:
Rosé with 50% of red grapes authorized, they are fresh and fruity with an attractive acidity.
Young wines without aging, with a deep color a wide range of fruity aromas and full of flavor. These wines have not been aged in oak barrels and if they have, for less than 12 months.
Crianza wines have been aged for a minimum of 24 months, at least 12 months in an Oak barrel. They are velvety wines with potent structure, a perfect blend of fruit and wood.
Reservas, are wines aged for at least 36 months with at least 12 months in oak barrels.
Gran Reserva are wines that have been aged for 60 months with a minimum of 24 months in oak barrels.
These last two wines are intense and elegant, with a very fine bouquet and attractive complexity that enjoy some of the most longevity in the world.
Patience and wisdom, modernism and tradition are intertwined to achieve an unmistakable wine, discover them in our Ribera del Duero Wine Tour.
The people of Ribera del Duero live an authentic passion for their wine and have been able to combine traditional work with the most advanced techniques to achieve an excellent quality that the denomination of origin Ribera del Duero demands from its more than 200 wineries and 600 brands.

The seal from the denomination of origin of Ribera del Duero guarantees the quality of the wines from the Young to the Gran Reserva.
Since its origin in 1982 the regulatory council vouches for the authenticity and quality of the wines under the denomination of origin Ribera del Duero.
The back label on every bottle from Ribera del Duero constitutes a true certification of guarantee because it assures the buyer that the wine has exceeded the most rigorous controls before filling his glass.
It contains a serial number and a security system called track seal Ribera del Duero that make it practically unforgeable which allows to control in a secure and reliable way the production and marketing of protected wines.
Wines from Ribera del Duero are wines with heart that represent the pure essence of the land where they are born.
Come with us and experience our Ribera del Duero Wine Tour in the heart of Duero.