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Extremadura's first DO takes its name from the river that runs east to west through its vineyards. The DO Ribera del Guadiana groups six sub-zones distributed between the region’s two provinces: Badajoz to the south, and Cáceres to the north.
Today the area shows evidences of a decisive belief in the modernisation of viticulture and oenology. At the same time each producer continues to preserve his or her own style. As a result, there has been an exceptional improvement in both the red and white wines made here.
The largest sub-zone is Tierra de Barros, which achieved a certain fame exporting wines in the Vino de la Tierra category. The DO continues to encourage new working methods such as the renewal of varieties, the updating of harvesting methods and the modernisation of the facilities needed to handle the increase in the number of barrels produced.
Thanks to all these factors, this region's image as a producer of wines with a high alcohol content and little structure is changing. Today, the emphasis is on greater fruitiness in the young wines and good wood blending in its aged wines.
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Fact file
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CRDO address:
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Ctra. Gijón-Sevilla, km 114 Aptdo 299
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06200 Almendralejo
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Badajoz
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Spain
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DO established
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16 April 1999
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Telephone
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+34 924 671 302
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Fax
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+34 924 664 703
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E-mail
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info@riberadelguadiana.eu
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Website
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www.riberadelguadiana.eu
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Vineyards:
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Subzones
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Montánchez, Cañamero, Ribera Baja, Ribera Alta, Tierra de Barros, Matanegra
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Area under vine
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27,000 ha
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Area in full production
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99%
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Altitude of vineyards
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209 to 1087 m
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Soil types
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Depends on the subzone. Mostly brown and slightly acid soils. Clay has good water retention as well as a considerable amount of limestone.
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Principal grapes (w)
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Alarije, Borba, Cayetana Blanca, Pardina, Viura, Chardonnay, Chelva (Montúa), Eva (Beba de los Santos), Malvar, Parellada, Pedro Ximénez, Verdejo, Cigüente, Moscatel de Alejandria, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Perruno, Sauvignon Blanc
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Principal grapes (r)
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Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Bobal, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Graciano, Mazuela, Merlot, Monastrell, Syrah, Garnacha Tintorera, Jaén Tinto, Pinot Noir
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Permitted grapes (w)
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-
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Permitted grapes (r)
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-
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Experimental grapes (w)
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-
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Experimental grapes (r)
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-
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Organic viticulture
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-
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Climate:
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Max. summer temp.
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40°C
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Min. winter temp.
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5°C
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Average rainfall
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400-500 mm
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Average sunshine
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-
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Production:
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Maximum crop
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10,000 kg/ha white;
8,000 kg/ha red
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Yield
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70%
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Equivalent hl/ha
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84 hl/ha white;
70 hl/ha red
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Production 2006
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79,898.50 hl.
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Production 2007
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80,971.92 hl.
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Production 2008
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-
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Wine alcohol content:
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White
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Min 10% abv
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Rosé
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Min 10% abv
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Red
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Min 11% abv
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Other
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-
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Ageing in oak:
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Crianza
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6 months oak
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Reserva
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12 months oak
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Gran Reserva
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24 months oak
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Wineries:
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Number of Wineries
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74
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Total exports - 2006
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894,870 litres
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Total exports - 2007
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895,300 litres
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Total exports - 2008
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-
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