Ribera del Duero should shun powerful wines for more classic style says Pingus founder
The biggest threat to the future of wines from the Ribera Del Duero is consumers turning their back on the signature ripe and powerful style of the region, according to Pingus founder Peter Sisseck.
Ribera del DueroThe wine producing region hopes to rival Spain's most well-known region - Rioja - with the launch of its new UK campaign.
The biggest threat to the future of wines from the Ribera Del Duero is consumers turning their back on the signature ripe and powerful style of the region, according to Pingus founder Peter Sisseck.
In an interview with Harpers.co.uk, the owner of iconic brand Pingus said he recognised the modern Spanish winemaking paradigm of using new French oak and super-ripe fruit was looking increasingly dated.
"Until recently, a great deal of contemporary Spanish winemaking was defined by concentration and the amount of new oak used in the wines for its own sake, however, in regions like Rioja, I believe consumers are starting to rediscover the joys of the traditional elegant and balanced style," Sisseck said.
"While some excellent new wave Riojas have emerged in the last 15 years, there are a sizeable amount of boring and expensive wines as well, produced in a very homogenous style," he added.
Sisseck also thought it was a mistake for Rioja to put too much emphasis on 100% Tempranillo wines. "You need a very special vineyard to produce an interesting Rioja without blending components."
Speaking further about the current status of the Ribera Del Duero zone, Sisseck told Harpers.co.uk he was also concerned that economic and bureaucratic pressure from the EU was encouraging growers to rip out old Tempranillo bush vines.
"This is one of our most precious resources but sadly these incentives from Brussels to remove low-yielding vineyards are just too attractive for growers to ignore," he added.
However, in a bid to encourage higher viticultural standards across the region, Sisseck is currently involved in a project known as PSI, whereby growers are paid higher prices for their grapes, in return for adhering to strict principles of lower yields, meticulous vineyard management and conversion to organic.
"It helps reverse the damage of the major expansion in vineyard plantings that occurred in the 1980s and 90s, with productive clones."
Meanwhile, the Ribera Del Duero DO is leading its first major marketing campaign in the UK market this year, spearheaded by Westbury Communications.
Consejo Regulador President Enrique Pascual García said the campaign was aimed at broadening the market for Ribera wines in the UK.
"The UK consumer is one of the most knowledgeable in the world because of the wide variety of wines from different regions that people have at their disposal. Our objective is that they will perceive Ribera's wines as being of highest quality, interesting and unique."
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