The inhospitable uplands of Ribera del Duero are ideal for viticulture, parched rocky soils and frigid climes compel the rugged vines to extract maximum nourishment and yield harvests of reduced berries, endowed with extraordinary intensity and lined with muscular tannins. Vega Sicilia was established 1864 with a view to emulating the great growths of Bordeaux. Merlot and Malbec performed well but it was the native Tempranillo which offered the masculinity and dominance of character to formulate the backbone of a wine, offering powerful fruit and profound, statuesque structure.