The clone used for the Austum Tempranillo was specifically selected by the University of Davis California. Producing low yield (4000kg per hectare) small grapes and earlier ripening that give greater concentrations and deep colour. The region has extreme climates with hot days and cool nights which create wines of great aromas and flavours. The Austum Tinta Fina from Bodegas Tionio is one of the few Ribera del Duero wines that are certified organic by CAECYL. Bodegas Tionio also produces a Verdejo from the Rueda region that is known for gravelly soils and continental weather producing a wine full of aroma and is intense, smart, clean and true to the Verdejo varietal.
The Ribera del Duero has a continental climate, with average rainfall of only 450mm per year. It has an average temperature of 11.5°C, but has considerable seasonal temperature contrasts.
The region is part of the great northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, where the soils are made up of sediments from the tertiary period: sandy clays and limes alternate with layers of limestone and marl.
Their estate “Finca Asperilla” is in the Peñafiel district at some 850m above sea level. It is made up of 18 hectares of Tinta Fina and 2 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon.
The vineyard was planted in 1994 on a range of soils, predominantly limestone and gravels. The vines are trained on a cordon trellising system. The high plant density of 3800 vines per hectare (2.2m between rows and 1.2m between vines) naturally regulates the vigour of the vines by creating competition for scarce nutrients. The vineyard is planted from East to West.
The leaf canopy is managed with green pruning and leaf removal to improve grape quality, increase the effectiveness of sanitary treatments (thus enabling us to reduce the overall number of treatments). The little fertilizer that is used is all organic and has mineral complements.