The Ebano Estate
Over the past few years Adegas Valminor (D.O. Rías Baixas) has been putting together a D.O. Ribera del Duero, initiative which began with the acquisition of prime vineyards in the area around Quintana del Pidio and Gumiel del Mercado. After extensive work on the vineyards and the construction of the necessary facilities, the first Ebano (crianza 2001) was produced. In Spanish, the word ébano means ebony, the hard black wood used in making musical instruments such as clarinets. The name evokes the deep dark color of the wine.

The Ebano Vineyards
The holdings amount to a total of 43 hectares (106 acres), separated in 7 different parcels. The vines are 100% Tempranillo. The older plantings (23 years) are pruned in the traditional goblet or head-trained fashion. Later plantings are trained on wires and are some 15 years old. The soils in the area are generally a mix of sand/gravel and clay/limestone.