Proprietors: Friends Javier and Miguel Ballesteros, owning 99 Acres of Tempranillo vineyards.

Winemaker / Vineyard Managers: Juan M. Burgos / Javier and Miguel.

Location: Zone 2; Mibal Wines are produced in the garage located in the town of Roa with vineyards in the adjacent towns of Anguix and Roa at 2,703 ft. altitude in the province of Burgos (eastern Ribera del Duero subregion).

Wines Made: Mibal Tinto, Mibal, Mibal Selección and Perfil.

Climate: Continental climate (Zone 2) cold nights and hot days with moderately low levels of rainfall. Compared with the wines from the western part of this DO, Burgos is known for its cooler climate and higher altitude usually producing wines deeper in color, more concentrated and
aromatic. Ribera del Duero is higher in altitude than Rueda and Toro with lower temperatures averaging 59.8º F from April to October, with 10.1 inches of rainfall. The continental climate gives grapes a long ripening season resulting in wines with greater aromatic intensity and complexity. Temperatures in Hornillo Ballestero’s vineyards are higher than neighboring producers such as Vizcarra and Torremorón, making the Mibal wines a bit richer and denser in style.

Soils: Both Javier and Miguel own different vineyard parcels composed of diverse types of soil and texture. Javier with 49 acres of 75 years old vines in the town of Anguix is planted on loam soils composed of 40% sand, 40% fine gravel particles and 20% thin dry clay with low fertility of organic matter at less than 5%, preventing excessive vine growth. Yields at 2.2 lbs. per vine and small berry size, give high skin to juice ratio with deep pigmentation, rich and intense flavors and balanced levels of ripe tannins. Miguel with 50 acres of 35 years old vines on average is located in the town of Roa. Depth of soils provide a buffer against drought but are well drained, composed of sand and limestone with small particles of
clay but poor in organic matter at less than 1% though yields are further controlled by early May pruning. Consistent quality fruit is grown yearly and outstanding wines made from vintage to vintage.

What makes Mibal wines unique?

* The climatic conditions of high altitude and cool climate within Ribera del Duero.

* The low fertility of the soil giving low yields.

* Small production of each cuvee at less than 1,000 cases.

* Miguel and Javier are only one of 5 garage “garriste” winemakers in Ribera del Duero.

BREAKDOWN OF VINEYARDS

There are 45,876 acres of vineyard land in Ribera del Duero.

The Vaso vineyard, composed of 70 year old Tempranillo vines, yielding 2.2 lbs of grapes per vine.

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