London, 2nd July 2021 - Ribera del Duero D.O. is slowly returning to its programme of activities and in-person events, following a period of carrying out projects behind closed doors or online. In anticipation of being able to enjoy wine out and about once again this summer, the D.O. is delighted to report an ‘excellent’ first vintage qualification, following the outbreak of the pandemic last year.
The rating was carried out with the collaboration of the Comité Excepcional de Calificación, an exclusive panel made up of nine leading professionals from the spheres of hospitality and communication, all of whom work directly with consumers and oversee the selection of wines in leading restaurants, and whose careers have been justly recognised by prestigious awards. A full list of judges is included overleaf.
Each member of the Comité submitted an anonymous personal evaluation to the Plenary of the Regulatory Board of the Ribera del Duero D.O. Taking into account the opinions of these professionals and internal reports from experts of the Board, the Plenary made the decision to grade the 2020 harvest as ‘EXCELLENT’.
Enrique Pascual, President of the Regulatory Board of the Ribera del Duero D.O., commented: “The 2020 harvest was long and very difficult, with rainy periods that forced grape-picking to stop on several occasions. Of course, because this most recent vintage unfolded during the pandemic, strict safety measures were put in place to ensure the safety of the workers. The professionalism and responsibility of wineries and winegrowers made for a calm vintage on the health side, but a little busier on the agricultural side; over 123 million kilos of high-quality grapes were picked during the harvest.”
Wines from the 2020 harvest
The wines from the 2020 vintage are fresh, light, well-rounded and very expressive. The colour is abundant and the nose reflects intense fruity aromas. On the palate, there is good balance, with semi sweet tannins and medium alcohol. In short, delicious wines with a good freshness and lots of fruit.
UK Marketing Plans 2021
The Regulatory Board of the Ribera del Duero D.O. will continue to develop its marketing strategy in the UK, with an exciting communications campaign for 2021 to be led by newly-appointed drinks specialist agency CUBE Communications.
Spanning trade and consumer, PR and events, print and digital, the campaign will focus on raising the trade’s awareness of Ribera del Duero D.O.’s wines, wide range of wine styles, terroir and grapes.
The trade programme will kick off with a long table lunch in November, showcasing a selection of wines from across Ribera del Duero, as selected by Tim Atkin MW. 2021 will also see the launch of a series of independent retailer promotions and online tastings to engage and educate both members of the wine trade and journalists.
As Pablo Baquera Peironcely, Marketing Director of the Regulatory Board of the Ribera del Duero D.O. commented, ‘We are delighted to be working with CUBE Communications this year and have an exciting and dynamic communications campaign planned that blends the best of online and in person events. We especially look forward to strengthening our reputation amongst the UK trade and engaging with British consumers in the years ahead.’
Follow Ribera Del Duero’s activities in the UK on Twitter @DORIberaUK
ENDS
PRESS CONTACTS: CUBE COMMUNICATIONS
Maddy Everington | maddy@cubecom.co.uk |+44 7790 996 701
Note to editors: Images from the Comité Excepcional de Calificación are available in the following link
About the Regulatory Council of the Denomination of The Regulatory Council of Ribera del Duero DO
The Regulatory Council of Ribera del Duero DO is the body responsible for ensuring the authenticity of the region, making sure that each bottle that bears its label has passed strict quality controls.
Almost 300 wineries make up this DO, which is situated in the Duero river basin and was voted Best Wine Region in the World in 2012. The wines of Ribera del Duero DO are characterised by their high quality, small production, and a strong commitment to innovation. The desire to overcome, experience and a creative mindset, together with dedication, tradition and talented winemakers and winegrowers make Ribera del Duero wines truly unique.
Comité Excepcional de Calificación
The Comité was made up of nine leading professionals from the spheres of hospitality and communication, listed as follows: Andrés Rodríguez, sommelier at Cenador de Amos***, Paula Menéndez, consultant and advisor at In Wines Veritas, Virginia García, sommelier at LÚ Cocina y Alma*, Diego Echegaray, sommelier at Aseuniv, Mayte Lapresta, director at Sobremesa magazine and editorial director at Vinoselección, Paz Ivison, reporter and journalist for SER, El Mundo, El Economista, 7 Caníbales, Planeta Vinos and Selectus Wines channels. Winner of Andalucía de Gastronomía 2019 prize, Juan Manuel Bellver, Director of Lavinia España, Zoltan Nagy, wine writer and author of ‘Reina de Copas’ and Selu Rodríguez, Content Editor of Bodeboca.
