Ribera del Duero Wine Route

Ribera del Duero received its denomination in 1982, though Vega Sicilia had been making wine here since 1864 and Roman and medieval production preceded it by a long way. The region runs about 115 kilometres along the Duero at altitudes between 750 and 1,000 metres, which gives large day-night temperature swings and concentrated fruit; the wine is almost entirely red from Tempranillo, called Tinto Fino here. Around three hundred wineries operate, from famous estates to small growers, many with modern visitor programmes. Beneath the older villages, particularly Aranda de Duero and Penafiel, run networks of medieval cellars dug into the rock at seven or eight metres, some open to visits.

What you actually see

• The underground cellars - medieval bodegas dug beneath the villages.
• The high-altitude vineyards - vines between 750 and 1,000 metres.
• The modern wineries - architect-designed estates receiving visitors.
• The September harvest - picking and crushing across the region.

When to go

September and October for harvest activity; April to June for touring in mild weather. Winter on the meseta is very cold and many small wineries close to visitors. Booking tastings ahead is standard.

Honest expectations

Visiting needs a car and a designated driver, as public transport between wineries does not exist. Most wineries require advance booking and some do not receive visitors at all. Prices for the well-known estates are high.

Nearby

Penafiel castle and its wine museum are central; Aranda de Duero and Valladolid lie either end.