Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Bodegas Tionio dedicates its name to “tionian wine” -considered the purest wine in Roman times-, and this idea is also the basis of their activity. The pursue of the purest essence of Ribera del Duero through unusual low yields and a stringent selection process leads to intense, high quality wines.
Vineyards, located in the grounds of Pago de Casar, enjoy a continental climate, with extreme temperatures in summer and winter, a propensity to frost and long periods of drought over the hot summers. Vines capable of withstanding such conditions produce deeply aromatic wines, excellently structured, and with a high quality and longevity.
Gaining notoriety among wine afficionados thanks to the quality of its elaboration, Tionio has discretely grown in prestige, today appearing on the wine lists of some of the best restaurants in Spain.
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.