I have very many fond memories of my childhood in Spain and whenever I think about visits to Ribera del Duero in the province of Valladolid, the first image in my mind is of the Duero River. I remember warm lazy summers on its banks, and days spent in charismatic small villages.

I remember the solitude of peaceful landscapes dotted with historic castles, and fields aglow with bright sunflowers and cereals. Nowadays most of those fields are worked for a different harvest, producing the lush fruit that fuels the famous wineries of this region.

The focal point for this area is Peñafiel, a town between the Duero and Duratón rivers. Here you can tour revered vineyards such as Protos, and visit the Provincial Wine Museum, housed in a castle.

A short distance away is Pesquera de Duero, internationally famed for its award-winning wineries. At the end of this valley lies beautiful Roturas, the village where my parents and grandparents grew up. Now a holiday rental, the Vieja Olma cottage built by my grandfather more than 100 years ago stirs more memories of an idyllic rural childhood.

The villages of Valbuena de Duero and San Bernardo lie on the golden mile at the heart of the Ribera del Duero. Here you’ll find the charming 12^th-century monastery of Santa Maria de Valbuena, now converted into a luxury hotel and thermal spa, and a perfect base for further exploration of one of Spain’s most gorgeous regions.

For more information on visiting and staying in the Ribera de Duero region, or to include it as part of your tour through Spain, contact us today and we’ll gladly send you more details.