Description
Francisco Barona is a third generation winegrower in Ribera del Duero who grew up with his hands and feet literally in the dirt. As a young man (he still is ;>) he had the good fortune to work with great producers in France, and eventually returned to his home turf with a passion for restoring the DO's oldest vineyard blocks, many of them nearly or completely abandoned, and all of them old field blends. His family's reaction initially was to tell him he was crazy—or words to that effect. Francisco persisted, and by 2021 he succeeded in building his own winery. His family has come 180 degrees now, as they have seen the quality of the wines Francisco is making, and the international reception they have received. These are a polished, refined face of Ribera del Duero, a region that, to be fair, isn't always associated with finesse. We first tasted Francisco's wines while visiting Spain in the fall of 2024, and were truly impressed. Delicious now, the 2022 is also a wine that we expect to age very well. - Peter Granoff, Master Sommelier
