The Duero (Duoro) Valley
The Duero river (Douro in Portugal) is 765 km (475 miles) long.
It starts in the Sierra de Urbión mountains south of Rioja.
It flows across Spain and forms part of the Spanish-Portuguese border before it flows across Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean at Pôrto.
Ribera DO |
Toro DO |
Rueda DO |
Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero (Banks of Duero) is one of Spain's top red wine regions.
The region attracts wine-lovers from around the globe with red Ribera del Duero wines made from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grape. A small amount of rosado wine is also made in the region.
The vineyards flank the Duero River and stretch up to limestone cliffs that rise between 700 and 1,000 meters above sea level.
Some producers successfully blend in Bordeaux varieties.
In 1864, Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, a Bordeaux-trained Spanish winemaker, established Vega Sicilia east of Valladolid. He planted his vineyards with Tinto Fino (Temranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, and started to create wine blends with significant commercial success.
Vega Sicilia is one of Spain's most notable producers.
Appellation Rules
DO wines must contain minimum 75% Tempranillo (most are made with 100 percent).
Blends may contain maximun 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Malbec.
| Name | Aging |
|---|---|
| Cosecha | No aging spesification |
| Crianza | Min 24 months. Min 12 months in Barrel |
| Reserva | Min 36 months. Min 12 months in Barrel |
| Grand ReservaCrianza | Min 48 months. Min 24 months in Barrel |
Rosé wines can undergo traditional aging similar to red wines, and can be aged to crianza, reserva, and gran reserva, as well as the non-aging cosecha classification.
| Black Grapes | White Grapes |
|
90% Tino Finto |
1% Albillo |
| Soil | Climate |
|
Sand / Silt / Clay Topsoil. |
Hot and Dry Continental. |
Rueda DO (1980)
Rueda DO is located in the dry Castilla y Leon region.
The vines have to work hard to grow in Rueda, and you can taste it in the wines.
Irrigation is needed from the Duero River that flows through the area.
Wines labeled Rueda DO must contain 50% Verdejo blended with Sauvignon blanc or Macabeo.
Wines labeled "Rueda Verdejo" often contains 100% Verdejo.
The Rueda DO is centered around the town of Rueda, in the province of Valladolid. The land is a flat high plain at 600 to 800 metres (2,000 - 2600 ft) above sea level. This means there is a considerable difference between day and night temperatures.
Rueda DO Production 2020
| White | Black | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 110 500 000 kg | 1 210 000 kg | 111 710 000 kg |
Rueda DO Production History
| Black Grapes | White Grapes |
|
|
83% Verdejo |
| Soil | Climate |
|
Gravelly. |
Hot and Dry Continental. |
Toro DO (1987)
Toro DO is named after the city of Toro (bull). It is located in the dry Castilla y Leon region.
Due to high temperatures, abdundant sunshine and low rainfall the area produces strong, high-alcohol wines.
Toro is well-known for its powerful, full bodied red wines made from Tinta da Toro.
Irrigation is needed from the Duero River that flows through the area.
Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) is the dominant grape.
Some Garnacha is grown for use in Toro Rosado.
Some Malvasia Blanca and Verdejo for use in Toro Blanco.
| Black Grapes | White Grapes |
|
95% Tinta del Toro |
|
Soil
The soil is formed by sediments of sand, clays and lime-bearing puddingstone, which produce a dark lime-bearing topsoil, with fine and coarse sands.
Vineyard area: 5 600 hectares.
Climate
Extreme Continental Climate
Long, hot summers, cold winters.
Low Rainfall (350 mm/year).
Abdundant Sunshine (2.600 h/year).
Irrigation is needed from the Duero River.
Altitudes: 650-825 m.
Temperatures: –11 to +40°C (12-104°F)