Dutch Ribera del Duero 2024 Competition.

Ribera del Duero marked its 40th anniversary as an appellation of origin in 2022. In just four decades, this region has seen its reputation soar, becoming one of Spain’s most esteemed wine-producing areas.

As Ribera’s popularity is rising their wines also increased in popularity, so much that their wines now can be found in almost every wine store, bar and restaurant throughout the Netherlands. But which wines are loved most by the Dutch consumers? A question that can be answered through the ‘Best of Ribera 2024 Competition’.

Best of Ribera 2024 Competition

Every year the D.O. Ribera del Duero organizes an open competition, in collaboration with Pitch PR. For this competition all wineries under the D.O. can submit one, or more, of their wines. Approximately 70 Ribera wines have been entered, mostly red, with a few whites and rosés.

This year Dutch Wine Apprentice has played an important role in the -pre-selection for this competition, the ‘semi-final’ tasting. A selection of the Dutch Wine Apprentice writing team spearheaded the 2024 competition, in collaboration with Cees van Casteren MW. 

The competition unfolds in two stages: first, the top 20 wines are pre-evaluated from 70 wines through blind tasting (the semi-final), and then the public selects the top 10 during a consumer tasting event on the 13th of October.

Our pre-selection was carried out recently. Together with Cees, a team of seven judges from the Dutch Wine Apprentice, carefully tasted and assessed each wine, considering both objective quality and our subjective impressions.

Overview of Ribera del Duero

Ribera del Duero is an exciting wine region that has surged in popularity over the past few decades. Although the first winery in the area, Vega Sicilia, was established in the late 19th century, the region remained relatively unknown until the 1990s. A major turning point came in the 1980s when Alejandro Fernández’s Pesquera gained international acclaim, inspiring many local growers to start producing wine under their own labels. Today, the Ribera del Duero boasts 322 wineries and 5,787 vine growers as part of its Regulatory Council.

The region’s unique terroir contributes to the distinct style of its wines. Located in the upper valley of the Duero River, Ribera del Duero sits at a high altitude of 720 meters, and in some areas exceeds 1,000 meters. This elevation results in a climate with scorching summers and frigid winters, characterized by extreme temperature fluctuations ranging from -20ºC to around 40ºC. 

The growing season is very short, leading locals to describe the climate as “nine months of winter and three months of hell.” However, these harsh conditions, combined with significant temperature differences between day and night during the summer, create the perfect environment for achieving a balanced ripening of the fruit, while retaining refreshing high acidity. In this climate, the early-ripening Tempranillo grape thrives, making up 96% of the total vineyard area in the region.

Etiquetes of Ribera del Duero Red Wines

Ribera del Duero wines are categorized into four tiers: Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva, and Cosecha. These classifications are based on regulations concerning the minimum aging period in oak barrels, and the specific classification is indicated on the back label. 

The following are regulations for red wines.

• Crianza: These wines must be aged for at least two years, with a minimum of 12 months in oak barrels.

• Reserva: Reserva wines require a minimum of three years of aging, with at least 12 months in oak barrels and the rest in the bottle.

• Gran Reserva: These wines are aged for at least five years, with at least 24 months in oak barrels and the remaining time in the bottle.

• Cosecha refers to wines that do not meet or choose not to follow the traditional classification criteria. These wines may use different types of oak barrels or vats made of different materials, offering more flexibility in production methods.

Blind Tasting for Pre-Selection

To begin with, we calibrated our judging scale together. Generally, well-made wines scored six and above, while those rated lower were considered unbalanced, less desirable, or had unexpected faults. Outstanding wines were rated eight and half or higher. We could also use a 0.5-point scale, allowing for finer distinctions, and discussed our ratings after each flight.

One area where our opinions initially diverged was aging potential. A wine with high acidity and tannins often indicates good aging potential but can be harsh when young. Only case that wines where these elements were balanced with fruit intensity scored higher. After some discussion, our views aligned mostly well, though individual differences remained—after all, wine appreciation is subjective. 

The 70 candidate wines varied significantly in both price and vintage, ranging from €10 to €100, and from 2005 to the latest releases. Our blind tasting began with Cosecha, followed by Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva wines, and continued for five hours.

Our Impressions and Conclusions

The Cosecha category was both intriguing and the most challenging, with 44 entries showcasing a diverse range of styles. These included white, rosé, and red wines, spanning vintages from 2016 to 2023. Some wines were youthful, fruit-forward, and generous, while others displayed more mature characteristics. This category doesn’t adhere to a specific profile, making it an exciting opportunity to explore different styles, producers, and philosophies—all through blind tasting. Several wines in this category received high ratings from our judges, with averages of 8.5 or above.

The Crianza category, traditionally characterized by the shortest aging period, is intended for wines meant to be enjoyed young, with fresh, pure, and vibrant styles. However, some entries were notably structured, suggesting they could benefit from additional time in the bottle.

Many of the Reserva wines aligned with expectations, offering concentrated fruit, robust structure, and the complexity that comes with extended aging. These wines were often highly rated by our panel.

The Gran Reserva category delivered another level of complexity and integration, with many wines showing potential for further aging due to their natural structure and depth.

Concluding the tasting the top 20 wines were selected, and now we eagerly anticipate the final competition by public consumers on the 13th of October in Abcoude. More information on this event, and a link to join us, can be found here.

We extend our gratitude to all the wineries that participated in this competition, to Cees for sharing his extensive knowledge and insights, and to the D.O. Ribera del Duero and Pitch PR for organizing this event. We would also like to thank: Kazumi, Inma, Martin, Jeroen, Daan and Niels for their participation in the jury.

This article was written by our own Kazumi Uejo, Picture credits: Daan (@mijn.wijn.hobby).