Southwest of La Rioja would be the Ribera del Duero region, along the Duero river. The region came to fame by the growth of Vega Sicilia, which was planted in 1864. The wines are designed to pair with the everyday dishes of the Spanish culture; the spices, dark fruit, smoky flavours enhance dishes that come of the grill; roasted meats, rich pastas, charcuterie

Ribera del Duero wines can best be compared to Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley thanks to those rich and bold flavors, but tend to be more refined and Old World in style, more balance and less overpowering oak.

Compared to the La Rioja region, they follow the same classification structure. While Rioja does tend to have greater variances with grape varietals due to the larger sub-regional differences, Ribera del Duero wines are mostly 100% Tempranillo, even though officially it only requires 75%. If blended, it's usually blended with the Brodeaux grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot