Rippa Dorii Ribera del Duero Roble (Spain)

Fancy an alternative to Rioja? Try Ribera del Duero! The neigbouring regions are alike in shared focus on the Tempranillo grape and in their winemaking methods, but where Rioja tends to be red-fruit driven, oaky and smooth, Ribera emerges as the more intense, concentrated black-fruit driven older sibling. 

Aromatically, this has a really inviting and vibrant fresh fruit expression of dark cherries, red plums, baking spices, with gently floral notes. The palate focuses on fruit, but with enough tannin to give structure, a good length finish, and gentle oaky notes.

The 'Rippa Dorii' range is an Ontañón Family project (usually based in Rioja) in Ribera del Duero. Their vineyards are located in the Fuentecén area, in the heart of the Ribera region, bathed by the Duero and its tributary the Riaza river. Here altitudes reach over 900 metres and the climate is harsh, with irregular rain, uncertain frosts, and short and extremely hot summers. After a first selection of grapes in the vineyard, they undergo a pre-fermentation maceration for 3 days. Alcoholic fermentation takes over 14 days at 21- 23ºC. The wine matures for 7 months in new oak - 40% American, and 60% French with varying levels of toast - 'roble' means that the wine is young, typically having spent under a year in oak!

Rippa Dorii is the latin form of ‘Ribera del Duero’ – inspiration for the name and label came from the nearby 13th century chapel of Santa Maria de Ripa Dorii, in Torrecilla de la Abadesa. 

Pair this with richly-flavoured pasta dishes such as ragù, bolognese or sticky ribs (mushroom or pork)!