The past and the present of Ribera del Duero is the thread/subject of an article signed by the British wine specialist John Radford in the wine magazine Wine & Spirit International. The journalist begins the analysis in 1982, and goes to the last stage that began in 1995 with strong investments by important wine brands such as Mariano García (Bodegas Aalto) and Áster, a winery founded in 1999 by La Rioja Alta following the style of the châteaux of the 18th century. New names have appeared in the denomination of origin, such as Legaris (from the Group Codorniú) and Tarsus (of Bodegas y Bebidas). More recent it is the ultra modern brand Pagos del Rey, signed by Félix Solis, a businessman with a solid tradition in the denomination of Valdepeñas.

Other names that attract attention to Radford are Celeste, a project of Miguel Torres, Portia, a new winery of the group Faustino designed by Norman Foster, and Chivite, which has acquired some lands in the area, although it has not yet founded any firm.

But, beyond these bright initiatives that increase the prices of the wine market, the connoisseur highlights the work of a dozen cooperatives that produce quality wine at a very competitive price for exportation.

Radford includes in his podium the following brands:

- Vega Sicilia Único 1994 (Vega Sicilia)

- Pingus 2001 (Dominio de Pingus)

- Malleolus de Valderramiro 2002 (Emilio Moro)

- Aalto PS 2002 (Bodegas y Viñedos Aalto)

- Janus 1995 (Pesquera)

- Viñas de Valtarreña 1998 (Carmelo Rodero)

- Finca el Picón 1999 (Pago de los Capellanes)

- Viña Sastre Reserva 2000 (Bodegas Hermanos Sastre)

- Áster Reserva 2000 (Bodegas Áster)

- Altos de Tamarón 2003 (Pagos del Rey)