Trip Guide to Ribera del Duero: Spain's Undiscovered Wine Region

While rich, intense, and deeply complex Ribera del Douro reds have a growing number of devotees around the world, the region itself is still largely undiscovered. Until recently, when a flurry of new hotels and inns attached to wineries started opening, even rooms were scarce. But for the adventurous oenophile, the payoff in visiting Ribera now is enormous. Medieval castles, ancient walled cities, and wildflower fields fill the landscape. The bodegas are small, with intimate tasting rooms and vintner-led tours (try finding that in Napa). And the regional food—lechazo asado (roast baby lamb), jamón ibérico (cured ham), rich sheep's milk cheese—alone is worth the trip.