Aalto

Aalto is a red wine producer based in the Ribera del Duero appellation of Castilla y León, in north-central Spain. The winery was founded by Mariano García, who spent decades as winemaker at Vega Sicilia, and Javier Zaragoza, formerly of the Ribera del Duero regulatory council. Their focus is narrow and deliberate: producing Tempranillo-based wines from old vines in the appellation.

Ribera del Duero sits on a high plateau at elevations typically between 750 and 900 metres, where continental temperatures and significant diurnal variation help Tempranillo retain acidity while developing concentration. The appellation is known for structured red wines with dark fruit character, firm tannins, and aging potential. Aalto works within this framework, sourcing fruit from old vine plots and applying winemaking that draws on the traditions of the region without being formulaic.

Their Ribera del Duero wine, produced from Tempranillo, represents the appellation's benchmark grape in its home territory. Tempranillo here tends toward darker, more tannic expressions than in warmer Spanish regions, and with vine age and elevation, can produce wines capable of extended cellaring.