top of page
We sought the involvement and help of institutions, among which we were fortunate to have Mr. José Luis Peña Alonso, Professor at the University of Burgos and expert in private law and involved (among his many occupations) in the board of directors of SODEBUR (Society for the development of the province of Burgos).
As an expert in rural tourism, we took the opportunity to answer some questions about the situation generated by the COVID with regard to rural tourism and wine tourism in our area,

Q. How have the winegrowers of the D.O. Ribera del Duero managed to solve the agricultural problems in the spring of 2020?
R. The pandemic has not affected the winemaking work of the winegrowers. The work in the vineyards was carried out as if nothing had happened.
The problems arose with the drop in wine sales, so we tried to increase sales in the food sector and with direct consumer promotions.

Q. How are you facing the 2021 season in the appellation?
R. We are looking for new sales channels to compensate for the drop in exports and in the restaurant sector. Direct contact with traditional consumers was encouraged and new consumer habits were promoted.

Q. Is the COVID crisis going to generate a new system of consumption, sales and distribution?
R. The 2021 season is being faced normally. The Ribera del Duero route remains among the three most visited in Spain. The 2020 wines have been rated as excellent. All the data offer a climate of optimism and a return to normality.

Q. What new opportunities can be generated in this new situation?
R. The promotion of new, more direct sales channels with wine consumers, the selection of international markets that prioritise excellence and the promotion of consumption among new generations.

Q. When is it going to end?
R. Unanswered question. I wish we knew the end date for COVID's problems.

Q. Is 2022 going to be the same as 2021 or 2020?
R. Hopefully not, but it will depend on the effectiveness of the vaccines and the mutation of the virus.
In any case, winegrowers will continue their work without discouragement.

The growing process in Ribera can be described as traditional, traditional machinery and winemaking, although innovation is being promoted without forgetting the artisan work.
The pandemic crisis has not been overcome, although there have been months with significant increases in wine exports.
The experience we have lived through has incorporated protocols that will be maintained in the future, regardless of the evolution of the pandemic.
In Ribera, the future lies in a permanent commitment to the quality of its wines and to the prevention of and solutions for climate change.

The cultivation of the vines responds to its natural process, which is currently being affected by climate change, which is motivating, for example, the purchase of new land at higher altitudes.
The pandemic directly led to a drop in sales in the catering sector, which did not compensate for the increase in the food sector. What it did motivate was the search for new sales channels, more direct and with younger generations.
bottom of page