Francisco Barona Ribera del Duero

D.O. Ribera del Duero

Pedrosa de Duero

Primarily Tinto Fino (Tempranilllo), intermixed in the vineyards with Garnacha Tinta, Albillo, Bobal, Jaen, and a host of other field blended indigenous varieties.

Francisco owns 45 Ha. of old field-blend vineyards planted in the villages of Roa, Anguix, Pedrosa de Duero, and La Aguilera. As of the 2021 harvest, 13 Ha. are used for his estate bottled wines, and the balance is sold off to some of the most prestigious producers in the appellation.

1908-1948

Francisco Barona farms 28 sites planted in Roa, Anguix, La Aguilera, and Pedrosa de Duero organically. These are old field-blend vineyards of Tinto Fino with other indigenous varieties. Barona obstains from the use of chemically synthesized fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, and does not irrigate. He works where necessary with cover crop to support the plant's natural defenses and to fix nitrogen in the soil. The soils are not plowed during the fall, winter, or spring. During the growing season, Barona does not defoliate to ensure that the clusters ripen in the shade. A green harvest is carried out in August to remove the clusters that are delayed in their ripening.

Calcareous clay soils intermixed with sand and gravel

Continental

After a rigorous sorting of the grapes, the bunches are destemmed but not crushed. The grapes are transferred by gravity to open top stainless steel vats where fermentation begins spontaneously without inoculation. Maceration is very gentle and manual punchdowns are carried out once per day during the maceration to limit over-extraction of the concentrated fruit. Malolactic fermentation in new French barrique.

16 months in new French barrique

Considered by many to be the best young winemaker in Ribera del Duero, Francisco Barona grew up in a family of humble viticulturists in Roa de Duero, and as a third generation farmer travelled to Bordeaux to work at Chateau Pavie-Macquin and study at the University of Bordeaux. After graduating top of his class Barona worked stints at Chateau Malescot St Exupéry and Angelus before working at Hartwell Estate in Napa and Klein Constantia. In 2010 he returned home and founded his estate in Ribera del Duero. Today, Barona owns 45 Ha. of old vines and is building a new winery to house his project in Roa de Duero. Barona's youngest vineyard was planted in 1948, and is leading the charge in Ribera away from commercialization and towards a recovery of what made Ribera del Duero famous - traditionally farmed, old field blended vineyards of Tinto Fino planted at high altitudes.