
DO Ribera del Duero
The Ribera del Duero region is highlighted by its small hills that dot the landscape, its gentle slopes and its gravelly soils. The Duero river begins its course here, flowing from the mountains in the East, Westward towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Our high altitude vineyards range from 600 to 900 meters, averaging 35-40 years of age. The continental climate is slightly influenced by the Mediterranean sea which brings long winters and dramatic temperature shifts from day to night during the summer months. It is an ideal landscape with excellent conditions for making memorable wines.
1. La Peña
- Varietal : Tempranillo
Located in the highest part of the hill on which our winery Altos de Ontañon sits, is the vineyard we call La Peña. With less than a single hectare of surface area, its 874 meters of altitude expose it to the inclement weather of Burgos, where the cold winters are more prolonged than any other site, resulting in much later than usual budbreak.
In summer, the intense heat is slightly mitigated by the gentle breeze that ventilates it and eliminates the possible humidity of cool nights.
This, together with its gravelly soil on top of sand and clay, provides us with ideal conditions for cultivating the hearty and age-worthy Tempranillo grape.
2. El Roble
- Varietal : Tempranillo
Leaving La Peña, heading down the slope, by way of a sea of vineyard land, we reach El Roble. It is just a short distance from an old oak forest. This vineyard is small, long and densely planted. Just a few dozen rows of low-lying, vaso-trained old vines, whose leaves provide shade for the soil and grapes during the Summer months. Very precise and careful vineyard management provide the highest quality grapes that express the typical characteristics of this land.
3. Santorcaz
- Varietal : Tempranillo
The Santorcaz vineyard is located within the area of the same name, occupying the slope of an adjacent ravine. The difference in altitude throughout this vineyard can vary up to 30 meters, resulting in uniquely different expressions of the same variety depending on the area and its exposure. The vines were originally vaso trained in accordance with the topography of this site. The soil, which is laden with limestone and pebbles, aids in preventing erosion as well as enhancing the freshness of the wines.
4. Las Solanas
- Varietal : Tempranillo
Las Solanas is situated on the outskirts of Fuentecén, in Las Abesanas. The vines are vaso trained and get their nutrients from soils of clay-rich sand, with limestone and calcareous layers.
Surrounded by plots as little as this one, Las Solanas grapes are quite small, with very noticeable tannins and a perfect level of acidity, which is ideal for making intense and long ageing wines.