Born in 1984, two years after the Ribera del Duero Denomination of Origin was established, Bodegas Valduero is one of the pioneering wineries of this thriving wine region. This tradition-rich yet modern winery is the vision of Gregorio García Álvarez and his two daughters Yolanda and Carolina García Viadero whose principal objective is for Bodegas Valduero to be one of the most prestigious wineries in Spain and Europe. Today the winery continues to be a family affair as all three continue to be involved with Gregorio as President, Yolanda serving as the Technical Director and Oenologist and Carolina serving as the Commercial and Communications Director.

Throughout the years the winery has been strategically growing making sure that along the way the quality of their wines is never compromised. Although many great projects have been completed in the winery since 1984 none is more important than the wise decision of having acquired over 140 acres of vineyards in some of the highest areas of Ribera del Duero. This decision allows the Valduero team to consistently secure some of the best grapes in the region allowing them to work their magic in the cellar and crafting some of the most sought after Ribera del Duero wines. With their vineyards located approximately 800-900 meters above sea level, and with much of it being old vines, the wines of Bodegas Valduero are known to showcase structured inviting tannins, balanced acidity and elegant fresh fruit.

During our visit we had the opportunity to taste a few of their wines, all of them with their very distinct personalities and all of them very good but it was their 2016 Valduero Reserva 6 Años that we fell in love with. The wine is called 6 Años because it ages for a minimum of 6 years. Three years in barrels from 4 different origins and 3 years in bottle. The wine is 100% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and the vines are over 40 years old. We found the wine to be a beautiful fusion of strength and elegance and while it was aged 3 years in oak the fruit was still the star of the show.

While the winery is breathtaking one of the features that captivated us the most was the Valduero Art Foundation Museum focused on finding creative ways to recycle old barrels. The museum, known as the Art of Valduero, was founded in 2017 and it is one of the most unique wine-related art installations we have come across.

At Bodegas Valduero the sense of family, hospitality and camaraderie are present at every turn. We found this fascinating winery to be a place in which elegant wines, tradition, art and a fun time all come together.