And lastly, the Montánchez sub-region boasts a complicated geographical landscape. Abundant hills that outline small valleys where the vineyard grows on terrain classed as dark acidic soil at an average altitude of 638 metres above sea level. A continental climate with very hot summers but not too severe winters. Yearly rainfall is around 500 to 600 mm. This region grows the Borba and Garnacha Tintorera grape varieties.

DO Ribera del Guadiana makes around 40m litres of wine yearly from this raw material, although only about a quarter gets endorsed, which demonstrates the regulating body’s high standards.

This appellation makes light and smooth young white wines from Pardina and Macabeo; whites fermented in oak from Pardina and Cayetana Blanca that are refreshing, balanced and well structured; rosés from Tempranillo and Tempranillo-Pardina, more full-bodied than the whites; and young reds that are notable for their fleshiness, fruity aftertaste and for being slightly tannic. The crianzas and reservas are made mostly from Tempranillo. They are refreshing in the mouth, full-bodied, fleshy and with woody primary aromas, and potent and mature secondary aromas.

Altogether, they are quality, up-to-date, modern wines, easy to drink but with their own marked individuality and style.

Wines that are, above all, suited to a European taste, as 77 percent of exports are targeted at EU member states, the most prominent being Holland, Sweden and Germany, where the Regulating Council has sponsored a marketing campaign for over two years. Switzerland is another of its major customers, taking 8.5 percent of DO Ribera del Guadiana’s total exports. Other important markets outside Europe are Canada and Japan.

By types of wine, red is the most successful, with 64.6 percent of total sales, followed by whites with 20.1 percent and rosés with the remaining 15.3 percent.

As to the future, DO Ribera del Guadiana wants to strengthen its presence on those markets where its wines are already known and open up a niche on other markets such as the US and Brazil.