Wine Region of the Week: Spain

Gaining a glowing reputation among US millennial wine lovers, are two wine regions from Spain, Ribera del Duero and Rueda.

Ribera del Duero, roughly two hours northwest of Madrid, provides a benchmark for quality in the Spanish wine category throughout the world. With an extreme climate perfectly suited for quality grape-growing and ripening, Ribera del Duero wines represent the pinnacle of Spanish winemaking and the ultimate expression of Spain’s most noble red grape: Tempranillo. The region’s frigid winters and rocky, rigid terrain produce Tempranillo grapes that develop a character all their own, resulting in full-bodied, rugged wines with a multitude of pairing options.

D.O. Rueda, founded in 1980, was the first D.O. in Castilla y León and is ranked the top white wine region in the Spanish market, according to Nielsen. Situated on a high plateau with a continental climate, Rueda has long cold winters, short springs and hot summers, perfect for the Verdejo grape, the dominant varietal in the region. High elevations and gravelly stone soils allow the Verdejo to ripen by mid-September and develop deep aromas and flavors resulting in dry, fresh wines that are food-friendly and accessible.

To learn more about Ribera del Duero and Rueda wines from Spain, visit the Si What’s Next campaign.