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There is a legend that has been told for centuries, a legend that took place in a world filled with brave knights, beautiful damsels, impregnable castles and great battles in an old Europe in which there was once a great king, for some, the perfect king.
In the 12th Century, the 12 Linajes distinguished wheel of shields was made. As was the case with the round table, the knights from the different lineages were equals. This is the same wheel we find nowadays in Hispanobodegas most distinguished label. This is a wine made for the most exquisite palates, a wine that is part of a great legend: the legend of the 12 Linajes.
The vineyards where these special wines are produced have an altitude between 845 and 960 meters and most of these vines are pre-phylloxeric. The 232 Ha vineyard are distributed around 1.000 small plots with a wide range of types of soils with a calcareous base as a common feature, that give a mineral character to the grape and prevent the roots from growing under deeper layers.
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.