Ribera del Duero

History of Ribera del Duero

The winemaking tradition in Ribera del Duero goes back more than two thousand years. The archaeological remains found at Baños de Valdearados, with their impressive 4th-century mosaic of Bacchus, show that vine growing in this region predates even Roman rule. However, it was in 1864 that Don Eloy Lecanda Chaves founded Bodegas Vega Sicilia in Valbuena de Duero, importing French Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec vines to combine with the native Tinta del País. That visionary gesture marked the birth of a legend.

The Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin was officially recognised in 1982, although the reputation of its wines had crossed borders decades earlier. Today the DO brings together more than 300 wineries along 115 kilometres of the Duero river, across the provinces of Burgos, Segovia, Soria and Valladolid.

Terroir: an extreme climate and unique soils

What makes Ribera del Duero truly unique is its terroir. The vineyards lie between 700 and 1,100 metres above sea level, subject to an extreme continental climate: long, harsh winters, short, intense summers, and a day-night temperature swing that can exceed 20 degrees Celsius. This thermal range is what makes the grapes ripen slowly, concentrating complex aromas, balanced acidity and a firm tannic structure.

The soils, made up of calcareous clays, sands and alluvial gravels, bring minerality and character to every harvest. The oldest vines, some more than a hundred years old, sink their roots deep into these stony soils, drawing nutrients and an expression of place that is impossible to replicate in any other region of the world.

Vega Sicilia: the absolute benchmark of Ribera del Duero

Talking about the best wines of Ribera del Duero inevitably means talking about Vega Sicilia. The oldest and most prestigious winery in the appellation produces wines that go beyond the category of great wine to become cultural heritage. Its Único, with more than ten years of ageing between barrel and bottle, is considered one of the finest reds in the world. Valbuena 5º, with five years of ageing, offers a more approachable but equally masterful reading of the terroir. And Alión, the sister winery founded in 1991, represents the most modern and fruit-driven expression of Tinta del País in Ribera del Duero.

At Vinos Master, as official authorised distributors of Vega Sicilia, we offer these exceptional wines with full guarantee of origin, direct traceability and the best storage conditions. Buying Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero wine through our catalogue is the safest way to access excellence.