D.O. Ribeira Sacra, appointment with the "Mondial des Vins Extremes", organized by CERVIM
"Mondial des Vins Extremes", which will be held in the Italian Valley of Aosta between July 11th and 13th, is the most important international event in the field of mountain viticulture or heroic viticulture, of which the D.O. Ribeira Sacra is one of the greatest exponents. The criteria that define mountain viticulture and that, therefore, the Denominations must comply in order for their wines to participate in the contest must be some of the following: altitude greater than 500 meters, ground slope greater than 30% (in points of the DO Ribeira Sacra 80% is reached) or viticultural systems of cultivation in terraces.
In Spain the only D.O. participants are the Canary Islands, Priorat and Ribeira Sacra. We are in territories of "heroic viticulture", a name that is reached by orographic conditions that do not allow mechanization, small-sized vineyards frequently organized in cultivation terraces, adverse weather conditions or/and because the vineyard is located in geographical areas with landscapes of high beauty and tourist character.
Through this Contest and other initiatives, CERVIM wants to promote and enhance the oenological production of those lands that are characterized by structural difficulties, but also by unique wines that have an extraordinary personality. Its objective is to emphasize the unique characteristics of these wines and to make consumers aware of the cultural aspects of mountain viticulture and the valuable work that wine growers do to enhance the value of the territory.
D.O.Ribeira Sacra presents this year, 51 samples, 44 of reds and 7 of whites, belonging to 35 wineries. The good results always obtained in Aosta serve as an international springboard for the wines of the D.O. Ribeira Sacra and consolidate it as one of the most important world references in what is called mountain viticulture or heroic viticulture.