Decanter Protos: a true Spanish pioneer
Promotional feature.Bodegas Protos helped to establish the reputation of the entire Ribera del Duero region. Julie Sheppard finds out how it’s still at the forefront of quality wine production today; while Natasha Hughes MW tastes and rates the Protos range
The name Ribera del Duero is well known by lovers of Spanish fine wines today. But in the early 20th century, it was a very different story. At that time the DO didn’t even exist and there were few wineries in this part of northwest Spain.
The story begins with Bodegas Protos, established in Ribera in 1927. The pioneers were a group of 11 childhood friends, who set up their winery in the dramatic hilltop castle town of Peñafiel. Appropriately, the winery took its name from the Greek word ‘protos’ (πρῶτος) meaning ‘first’.