Wine is our essence, it is the leitmotiv of our tourist route, with more than 60 wineries along the river that open their doors to wine tourism throughout the year. But other essential themes such as FOOD and GASTRONOMY, characterised by their variety and quality, also revolve around wine. We are going to talk to you about food products from the Ribera del Duero region, are your palates ready?

Around the world of food there are a series of differentiated quality figures that, probably for the end consumer, are somewhat complex. But we are here to make things a little clearer for you, and above all to highlight the value of our local products, the products of Ribera del Duero.

The Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin is a Designation of Origin associated exclusively with wine. However, as it is made up of wine-growing areas in four provinces, we are going to highlight and promote the agri-food products from these four provinces (Burgos, Valladolid, Soria and Segovia). Before we get to them, we will tell you what the structure is to differentiate the quality of the products, and how many there are today.

• EUROPE / SPAIN / CASTILLA Y LEÓN
• AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS AND GASTRONOMY IN THE RIBERA DEL DUERO:
  • 1. WINE
  • 2. LECHAZO
  • 3. OTHER AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS BY RIVERSIDE PROVINCES:
    • VALLADOLID
    • BURGOS
    • SORIA
    • SEGOVIA
• TECHNICAL TERMS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN…?

► EUROPE

• The differentiated quality marks (PDO/PGI/TSG) are governed by specific Community legislation, derived from the European Union’s food quality policy.
• In the European Union there are currently 3,368 differentiated quality marks registered and controlled by the e-AMBROSIAprogramme (agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines, spirits and aromatised wines) and e-Bacchus for wines.

► SPAIN

• According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), in Spain there are 380 differentiated quality figures between agri-food products with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and products with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Of these, 361 are registered in the European Union and 19 are in the evaluation phase.
• ALIMENTOS de ESPAÑA is the brand under which Spanish agri-food products are promoted through this Ministry.

► CASTILLA Y LEÓN

• Castilla y León is one of the largest food-producing regions in Europe and one of the most important in Spain.
• Almost 10% of the more than 361 quality seals in Spain correspond to Castilla y León.
• Since its launch in 2009, TIERRA DE SABOR has established itself as a brand that gives its agri-food products differentiation, quality and prestige. It currently has 5,894 authorised products.
• The VINO DE LA TIERRA de CASTILLA Y LEÓN (PGI) and the CASTELLANO CHEESE (PGI) are certified products with origin in all the provinces of our Autonomous Community, as well as the LECHAZO (PGI), which we will talk about next.

AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS IN THE RIBERA DEL DUERO REGION

The two products with a seal of quality that we have in common in the whole region and that, moreover, combine wonderfully are: the WINE of the Ribera del Duero Denomination of Origin and the LECHAZO of Castilla y León IGP.

► THE RIBERA DEL DUERO DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN (DO) WINE

• The official map of the Protected Designations of Origin for wines in Spain currently totals 97 quality seals, 68 of which are qualified as Denominations of Origin (D.O.). In Castilla y León there are 13 of them (almost 20%).
• The Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin was approved in July 1982, its Regulatory Council is located in Roa (Burgos), and includes municipalities in four provinces of Castilla y León: Soria, Burgos, Valladolid and Segovia.
• In February 2016, the current image of the brand was presented, changing from a circular to a vertical format.
• Currently more than 300 wineries make wine with Ribera del Duero labels through 2,225 brands.
• Our main red grape variety is tempranillo, and albillo mayor for white grapes.
• We make red, white and rosé wines, which one is your favourite? Tell us about it!
• In 2020, around 115 million kilos of grapes were harvested. You can find out more about the riparian harvest here.

► EL LECHAZO DE CASTILLA Y LEÓN (IGP)

• In 1997 the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Lechazo de Castilla y León” was approved.
• It is made from suckling lambs (young sheep that are still suckling) that are born and raised in Castilla y León and come exclusively from the native breeds Churra, Castellana and Ojalada.
• It is the traditional dish par excellence in the Ribera del Duero, and many rotisseries throughout our region offer this exquisite delicacy cooked over a slow fire in a wood-fired oven.

BY RIBEREAN PROVINCES (Valladolid, Burgos, Soria and Segovia)

Below is a list of other agri-food products with differentiated quality marks from each of the four provinces that make up the Ribera del Duero region. As we have already mentioned, the following product brands are common to these four provinces: the RIBERA DEL DUERO Denomination of Origin, the LECHAZO de Castilla y León (PGI), the VINO DE LA TIERRA de Castilla y León (PGI) and the CASTELLANO CHEESE (PGI).

But we also incorporate the GUARANTEE MARKS certified by the ITACYL that serve to distinguish some products from others on the basis of compliance with a manual of use that is guaranteed by the owner of the mark. CASTILLA y LEÓN MUSHROOMS are a common quality mark in the 4 provinces, both for the quality and quantity of the product that comes from their forests, and also for the TORTA OF ARANDA!

And this is the list of service marks that we have in Spain, in our community and in our four provinces, which consist especially in the promotion and advertising of the products in question:

*The SABOREA SORIA brand is currently paralysed in the readaptation phase.

► VALLADOLID:

• Valladolid is the Spanish province with the most wine Designations of Origin (4).
• Valladolid’s Ribera del Duero has its capital in Peñafiel, where the majestic castle, now the Provincial Wine Museum, is located.
• These are the NINE certified quality products in the province of Valladolid:
  • Fresh Meat: Lechazode Castilla y León (PGI).
  • Fruits and vegetables: Pimiento de Fresno-Benavente (PGI)
  • Dairy products: Castilian Cheese (PGI)
  • Pulses: Lentils from Tierra de Campos (PGI)
  • Wines:
    1. Cigales (DO)
    2. León (DO)
    3. Ribera del Duero (DO)
    4. Rueda (DO)
    5. Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León (PGI)
• ALIMENTOS DE VALLADOLID is the commercial brand managed by the Diputación de Valladolid as a sign of geographical identity and quality, to which the Ribera del Duero Wine Route is adhered.
• FIVE are the products“guarantee brand” by ITACYL in the province of Valladolid:
  1. The Mushrooms of Castilla y León.
  2. Torta de Aranda.
  3. VALLADOLID BREAD.
  4. TUDELA ASPARAGUS.
  5. VALLELADO GARLIC, which is produced in riverside towns such as Fompedraza and Canalejas de Peñafiel.

In addition:

• In Peñafiel you have to taste its characteristic bread cake, also called COSCOJA.
• In this town several products are produced and cultivated that we would like to mention: the FLOR DE ESGUEVA CHEESE, the ENDIVIAS (ENDIVIAS DEL DUERO), whose production corresponds to about 20% of the national production of this vegetable, and the brand of products SANTIVERI.

Coscoja de Peñafiel (photo courtesy of Inés Resina)

► BURGOS:

• The Burgos region is the largest in the Designation of Origin and has its capital in Aranda de Duero.
• These are the SIX certified quality products integrated in the province of Burgos:
  • Fresh Meat: Lechazo de Castilla y León (PGI).
  • Meat products: Burgos Blood Sausage (PGI)
  • Dairy products: Castilian Cheese (PGI)
  • Wines:
    1. Arlanza (DO)
    2. Ribera de Duero (DO)
    3. Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León (PGI)
• BURGOS ALIMENTA is the commercial brand managed by the Diputación de Burgos as a sign of geographical identity and distinctive quality.
• FIVE are the products“guarantee brand” by ITACYL in the province of Burgos:
  1. The mushrooms of Castilla y León.
  2. TORTA DE ARANDA: this is a flattened round loaf weighing about 500 grams, 30-32 centimetres in diameter and 4-5 cm thick, with dimples on the surface and a very golden colour due to the oil spread on it before it goes into the oven.
  3. MEDINA LETTUCE, which goes so well with roast suckling lamb.
  4. CHERRY and APPLE from the Caderechas Valley.
  5. CERVERA MEAT.

In addition, Aranda de Duero produces food products such as VERDIFRESH or the famous brand of Aranda origin, PASCUAL MILK.

Torta de Aranda (photo by ITACYL)

►SORIA:

• Soria’s Ribera del Duero has a lot of art: it is the cradle of the riverside Romanesque and its capital is San Esteban de Gormaz.
• These are the FIVE certified quality products from the province of Soria:
  • Fresh Meat: Lechazode Castilla y León (IGP).
  • Dairy products:
    • Butter from Soria (DOP)
    • Castilian Cheese (PGI)
  • Wines:
    • Ribera del Duero (DO)
    • Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León (PGI)
• SABOREA SORIA is the brand that markets the products of this province.
• THREE are the products“guarantee brand” by ITACYL in the province of Soria:
  • The exquisite TORREZNO DE SORIA is one of the jewels of Soria’s gastronomy: crispy and golden crust on one side and tender lean meat and bacon on the other.
  • The mushrooms of Castile and Leon.
  • The Torta de Aranda.

We would also like to mention the Black Truffle or “Black Diamond of Soria” and the Ojalada sheep breed, an indigenous sheep breed located mainly in the central and south-western area of the province of Soria. Together with the Churra and the Castellana, it belongs to the ‘Lechazo de Castilla y León’ specific designation.

And we do not leave Soria’s Ribera del Duero without sampling fruit and vegetables from the so-called “sea of plastic”: from the wholesaler Nufri, right on the border of the region, whose apple production (872 hectares) accounts for 4% of the national market, to Deda Ebro and its 70 hectares in San Esteban de Gormaz, to Olmillos with companies such as Florette Agrícola (180 hectares of lettuce and escarole) or the production of strawberries.

►SEGOVIA:

• Segovia’s Ribera del Duero is, in extension, the smallest but it has a great jewel: the Natural Park of Hoces del Riaza.
• These are the EIGHT certified quality products in the province of Segovia:
  • Fresh Meat: Lechazo de Castilla y León (IGP).
  • Meat products:
    1. Chorizo Cantimpalos (PGI)
    2. Guijuelo (PDO)
  • Dairy products: Castilian Cheese (PGI)
  • Wines:
    1. Ribera del Duero (DO)
    2. Rueda (DO)
    3. Valtiendas (PDO)
    4. Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León (PGI)
• ALIMENTOS DE SEGOVIA is the commercial brand managed by the Segovia Provincial Council as a sign of geographical identity and distinctive quality.
• There are FIVE“guarantee brand” products by ITACYL in the province of Segovia:
  • The exquisite COCHINILLO DE SEGOVIA (a white breed of pig, born and reared in the province of Segovia, fed only on mother’s milk from birth to slaughter).
  • JUDIÓN DE LA GRANJA is grown on plots of land located in the 172 municipalities of this province.
  • Garlic from Vallelado.
  • Mushrooms from Castilla y León.
  • Torta de Aranda.

Find out more about Ribera del Duero in Segovia here.

This is the (detailed) review of the products of our region, local products, quality products. Help us to disseminate and enhance the value of what is ours, our culture, our heritage, including our gastronomic heritage (click here to watch a video).

Imagine the endless number of recipes that can be made from these products: roast, stew, “potaje de vigilia”, “tavern style” cod, garlic soups, torrijas, grape cakes and so on and so forth. From the most traditional riverside gastronomy to the most innovative. And, of course, you can’t miss the corresponding gastronomic days such as those of the suckling lamb, tapas, croquettes, mushrooms, tastings, fairs and an endless number of events throughout the year? Keep an eye on our agenda and social networks, we will be telling you everything as they are confirmed.

Do you still have any doubts about the quality terms of agri-food products?

TECHNICAL TERMS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN…?

In our Autonomous Community, we have the Castile and Leon Agricultural Technology Institute (ITACYL), attached to the Ministry of Agriculture, which promotes the activity of the Castile and Leon agricultural sector and its processing industries, acting in several areas, including quality certification . So much so, in fact, that it contemplates an additional figure:

• The GUARANTEE MARK

At Spanish and European level, these are the two main figures that distinguish agri-food products with differentiated quality figures:

• PROTECTED DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN (PDO) .
• PROTECTED GEOGRAPHIC INDICATION (PGI).

The differences between PDO and PGI have mainly to do with the amount of raw materials of the product that must come from the area in question or the parts of the production process that have to take place in the specific region. That is to say:

• In a PDO product, all stages of production take place in the defined geographical area, however in a PGI product only one of the stages needs to take place in the same geographical area.
• In a PDO product, the link between the characteristics of the product and the geographical area in which it is produced is stronger than in a PGI product, since in the Protected Designation of Origin product the characteristics of the product are fundamentally or exclusively due to the geographical area, whereas in a Protected Geographical Indication product, only one quality, reputation or characteristic needs to be due to the geographical area.

But beware that, to make things a little more complicated for the consumer, there is also the TRADITIONAL SPECIALITY GUARANTEED (TGS ), which does not refer to the origin, but aims to protect the production methods and traditional recipes.

In short:

• You can find these products in the shops of our municipalities, support local commerce!
• In our wine shops they will recommend you the most appropriate product for your mother-in-law to look at you with good eyes.
• You can also buy Ribera del Duero Denomination of Origin wine through their website.
• If you prefer to get it ready-made… no problem! Ask for an appointment at one of our restaurants.
• If, as well as enjoying your palate, you’re going to make the most of the opportunity to sleep away from home, take a look at the accommodation on our Wine Route.

Organisations consulted:

• Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
• Service marks: Alimentos de España, Tierra de Sabor, Burgos Alimenta, Alimentos de Valladolid, Saborea Soria and Alimentos de Segovia.
• Spanish Patent and Trademark Office
• European Commission Quality Seals
• Castilla y León Agricultural Technological Institute (ITACYL)

Quality Marks (Ministry) and Guarantee Marks (ITACYL):

• Lechazo de Castilla y León IGP: https://igplechazodecastillayleon.es/
• Mushrooms from Castilla y León: http://www.micocyl.es/
• Pan de Valladolid: http://www.pandevalladolid.es/
• Torrezno de Soria: http://www.torreznodesoria.com/
• Butter from Soria: http://www.mantequilladesoria.com/
• Suckling pig from Segovia: http://www.mgcochinillodesegovia.com/
• Judión de la Granja: http://eljudion.lagranja-valsain.com/
• Centro Tecnológico de Cereales de CyL (CETECE): www.cetece.net

If you need more information you can ask us here:

• info@riberate.com
• + 34 947 10 72 54

Header photo: Lechazo Ribera del Duero Days

Date of edition: December 2020