Ribera del Queiles
The IGP Ribera del Queiles is an officially recognized quality designation that protects the dry red wines produced in the valley of the Queiles River, a supra-regional area shared between Aragón and Navarra. The IGP highlights the winemaking tradition of the area, supporting both historical production and more recent projects, and offers consumers a clear reference of origin and distinguishing character within the Spanish wine landscape.
Geographic area
It is a Protected Geographical Indication of supra‑regional territorial scope; its production and elaboration area encompasses the territory of several autonomous communities.
The wines designated with the Protected Geographical Indication “Ribera del Queiles” must come exclusively from vineyards in the production area, constituted by the following municipalities of the Autonomous Community of Aragón, in the Province of Zaragoza: Grisel, Lituenigo, Los Fayos, Malón, Novallas, Santa Cruz de Moncayo, Tarazona, Torrellas, and Vierlas; and of the Chartered Community of Navarra: Ablitas, Barillas, Cascante, Monteagudo, Murchante, Tudela (the part of the municipal term south of the Ebro River), and Tulebras.
The proximity of Moncayo (a mountain of 2,313 meters of altitude), to the production area of the IGP “Ribera del Queiles”, determines that the thermometric change between day and night, especially in the key period from veraison to harvest, is very significant (15ºC), which contributes to the formation of tannins and anthocyanins.
This causes the color and expression of the grape varieties used to be enhanced, which, together with the rest of the characteristics, gives the wines a specific character and a commercial reputation. The grape varieties for winemaking are red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Graciano, Garnacha tinta, Merlot, Tempranillo and Syrah, with a minimum total alcoholic strength of 11% vol.
La IGP Ribera del Queiles se creó y se reconoció oficialmente en 2003 como Vino de la Tierra, otorgando identidad y protección a los vinos tintos procedentes del valle del río Queiles, un territorio compartido entre Aragón y Navarra. Aunque fue formalizada en 2003, los vinos de esta zona ya tenían reputación y premios internacionales anteriores a la protección, lo que refleja una trayectoria de calidad reconocida en mercados europeos y americanos desde finales del siglo XX.
General characteristics
The grape varieties for winemaking are red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Graciano, Garnacha tinta, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Syrah, with a minimum total alcoholic strength of 11% vol.