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It is always said that Spaniards are proud. That Spaniards can be proud of their wine is demonstrated by the Fernández Rivera family in the DO Ribera del Duero, where they have lived surrounded by vineyards for generations, masterfully capturing the region's terroir in bottles with respect, love and pride.

Pioneers are those who follow a vision. A vision that others have not yet been able to grasp. And yet - if they succeed - they pave the way for all those who follow them. In the best case, pioneers initiate a groundbreaking change. A revolution, so to speak, which was started in the wine world exactly 50 years ago by Alejandro Fernández and Esperanza Rivera quite unknowingly. They just wanted to live their vision of wine. To realise this vision, they bought a small 16th-century stone winery in their hometown of Pesquera de Duero in the province of Valladolid in northern Spain. Here - in the Ribera del Duero region - they laid the foundation for a wine story that achieved world fame in 1972. A wine story that has also become a family story over three generations. And which draws its success from concentrating on the essentials: winemaking from a single grape variety - Tempranillo.

A pillar of the region

Because Spain's most important red wine grape variety shows a very special side here in the privileged surroundings on the banks of the Duero. "We use what the soil gives us and turn it into a special wine," says Elisa Martínez, who is responsible for the export business of the growing winery, which now has three more bodegas. Something that the winemaking couple Alejandro Fernández and Esperanza Rivera achieved directly and thanks to their great ambition with the first vintage in 1975. Since then, Tinto Pesquera, whose name is a tribute to the founders' beloved birthplace, has stood for wines that cause a stir. "Tinto Pesquera has always been a pioneer in Tempranillo winemaking. A monument that sets standards," says Elisa Martínez, not without pride. And accordingly, the flagship winery has been one of the mainstays of the up-and-coming wine region since the DO Ribera del Duero, a protected designation of origin, was founded in 1982. Years of hard work and the constant awareness that great wines can only thrive in harmony with nature have led the winegrowing family on a path that has brought them numerous international awards to date - and recognition as Spain's top wine producer by the American wine critic Robert Parker, who even ennobled the wines as the "best wines in the world".

Organic by tradition

How did the family achieve this success? Over the decades, the generations have remained true to themselves. This has allowed the Pesquera wines to develop their own style, based on an essential foundation: The grapes must always be treated with respect. The care of the sandy loam soil and the vines are the crucial foundation. The grapes are carefully selected and harvested at the optimal level of ripeness, so that the fruit is always at the forefront of the wines. "A completely natural and traditional winemaking process is still the be-all and end-all today," adds Elisa Martínez. The wines mature in underground cellars that guarantee optimal temperatures all year round. This allows the wines to develop their complexity in peace and to develop their innate character over time. A character that still thrives on the pioneering spirit - even if, since 2019, it is the granddaughters of the founders who are now the third generation to carry the family's vinophile legacy... and certainly add another exciting chapter to this fascinating story.

Online tasting with Alejandro Fernandez

We cordially invite you to visit this great winery with its 2019 Pesquera Crianza get to know in December at our wein.plus:club online tastings. The places, which are available for B2B and end consumers, are very limited.

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