What Francisco is doing in Ribera feels both traditional and revolutionary. His vineyards—none younger than 1948—are helping lead a movement away from commercialization and back toward what originally made Ribera del Duero famous: traditionally farmed, high-altitude, old-vine field blends centered around Tinto Fino.
Having just returned from a whirlwind nine-day trip to Spain with the incredible folks at Jorge Ordóñez Selections, I came home with a completely new appreciation for Spain’s vineyards, wineries, and—most importantly—the extraordinary diversity of terroirs the country has to offer.
While our host for the trip, Jorge’s son Victor, diplomatically avoided naming a favorite winery, I have no such hesitation. For me, the highlight of the trip was visiting Francisco Barona in Ribera del Duero.
Considered by many to be one of the most exciting young winemakers in Ribera, Francisco grew up in a humble family of viticulturists in Roa de Duero. A third-generation farmer, he left Spain to study at the University of Bordeaux while working at Château Pavie-Macquin before eventually returning home to establish his own estate in 2010.
What Francisco is doing in Ribera feels both traditional and revolutionary. His vineyards—none younger than 1948—are helping lead a movement away from commercialization and back toward what originally made Ribera del Duero famous: traditionally farmed, high-altitude, old-vine field blends centered around Tinto Fino.
His winery itself is tiny but remarkably purposeful, designed entirely around the wines he wants to make. Currently, Francisco produces just two reds: the flagship Francisco Barona Ribera del Duero and the incredibly limited FINCA LAS DUEÑAS Ribera del Duero, with fewer than 2,000 bottles produced for the entire world. (There is also a white wine quietly aging in barrel and bottle that will eventually be released.)
The critical acclaim has already been staggering. The 2023 Francisco Barona Ribera del Duero received 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck and was named the #7 Wine of 2025. FINCA LAS DUEÑAS earned 99 and 100-point scores for the 2020 and 2021 vintages respectively, with no 2022 produced.
After tasting the 2023s in the cellar, I immediately grabbed the last bottles of Francisco Barona available in St. Louis and will be asking for every bottle of the 2023 FINCA LAS DUEÑAS I can get my hands on. Based on what I tasted, I would not be surprised to see another perfect score attached to this vintage.
I could go on for hours, but if you want to hear more about the trip—or see photos from Ribera del Duero—stop by the shop sometime. I’d be more than happy to share the experience.