With the winter nights drawing in, temperatures dropping and Christmas lights once again brightening up the skies, one thing is for certain: it’s officially red wine season. If, like us, you’re on the hunt for the perfect red to serve over the festive period, Ribera del Duero might just have the answer for you.
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Home to Spain’s most exclusive red wines and the Tempranillo grape (or Tinto Fino as the locals call it), Ribera del Duero’s red options are vast and ultra-luxurious. With Christmas around the corner, we’ve rounded up our favourite nine wines from the region. Perfect for gifting, serving on December 25th or enjoying in front of the roaring fireplace, read on to find out why we love them…
With top-quality wines, including both Reserva and Gran Reserva varieties, it’s easy to see why wine lovers have fallen in love with Ribera del Duero’s diverse offerings.
It’s located in the historic Castilla y León, a 115km strip of vineyards that are slotted against the banks of the Duero River. The area itself has been producing wines for over 2,500 years. The vines are old and the climate is harsh, but both these and its handy location stretching up the high-altitude slopes of the valley help to produce luxury wines.
Rich and spicy, the result creates big flavours but a light finish. From Crianza, a younger, modern fruity style to Reserva or Gran Reserva, a richer, spicier and smokier style, Ribera del Duero offers a wine to suit every palate and budget.
Dark cherry red in colour, this wine boasts notes of flowers and black fruit over smoky, toasty undertones. Its smooth, silky finish makes this Crianza pair beautifully with red meats, chorizo and aged cheeses.
Bright and lively, expect aromas of black fruit, coffee and pure cocoa to hit, followed by hints of white flowers, a renowned characteristic of Tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero region of Burgos. A long finish on the palate, pair this with different meats and fish in sauces.
The perfect cheeseboard accompaniment, this bottle is made using 100% Tempranillo grapes. Expect a mix of ripe blueberries, cherries, strawberries, coconut and bay leaves with chocolate on the nose, with a polished, rich finish.
A bottle with a story, Origen de Resalte Crianza is produced from different Tempranillo vineyards with yields under 4,500kg/hectares and located across six different villages in the region. Its mix of soils, altitudes and sunlight exposure helps to create a wine with complexity and long-lasting depth.
On the nose, expect aromas of red and black fruits with hints of balsamic and toasted notes. While on the palate, this wine is full, rich and lingering with a silky finish. Decant for a short time before enjoying with your Christmas Day feast.
Made using 100% Tempranillo and aged for 28 months in French oak barrels, this is a wine designed with special occasions in mind. Despite its longer ageing process, it feels young and fresh and is bursting with sweet oak flavours. Enjoy with roast lamb or gift this to add to a wine lovers’ cellar collection.
Take your roast beef up a note and surprise guests with this sweet red. Cherry red in colour, it’s bursting with very ripe fruit aromas and rounds off with a full-bodied finish and aftertaste.
From roasted vegetables and meats to suckling pig and mature cheeses, this is a Christmas party essential. Full-bodied and savoury, it’s an easy wine that everyone around the table will enjoy. Expect a balanced finish with spicy and balsamic hints.
Clean and bright, its big and complex aromas are typical of the Ribera del Duero style. Look forward to cacao, cocoa and toffee essences to fuel you through the cooler, winter months.
