Barnyard rooster with chocolate scent

Ribera del Duero is about 70 miles wide along the banks of the Duero River, with the large city of Vallodolid to the west and Burgos to the east.  Valladolid is one of the biggest cities in Spain, and an industrial one at that with many highways converging onto it and therefore may not be the best choice to stay while visiting bodegas.   Once out of the city, the wine region is a very bucolic and beautiful area with most bodegas within easy access from the central highway of N122.  …

From the eastern part of Rioja to the heart of Ribera del Duero, it is only 125 miles or an easy 2 1/2 hour drive, which makes it a compelling visit to compare the different styles of tempranillo wines.  While relatively close, Ribera del Duero is on the “meseta” or plateau of central Spain and at higher elevations of 2,500 feet above sea level, providing a strong continental climate.   Everytime I think of visits to Ribera del Duero, I am reminded of the blinding luminosity and unpredictable thunderstorms characteristic of continental climates.  …