1981 Spain

In Rioja this was a growing season of 2 halves - the winter was long, cold and frosty and temperatures remained low throughout spring and much of summer. However, September and October were very hot and dry and this gave a real boost to the quality. In retrospect many producers now believe that, for serious, long-lived red wines, this was a better vintage than the more widely publicised 1982.

An excellent year in Ribera del Duero although, with the exception of Vega Sicilia, this year predates the "new wave" Riberas.