Ribera del Duero recommendations

I can’t speak to wineries, but take a look at the Parador de Lerma for lodging. For towns to visit, Aranda de Duero is nearby as is Covarrubias (on Spain’s prettiest village list). A town I really enjoyed is Burgo de Osma. A nearby short nature walk is Desfiladero de La Yecla.

Peñafiel Castle is also nearby. In addition to being a unique castle to walk around due to it being long and narrow, there is an on-site wine museum.

We had an idyllic stay at the winery ABADIA RETUERTA a restored 12th-century abbey in the midst of vineyards. Some of the best asadores in Spain are within an easy drive (including MANNIX) and the hotel restaurant is very fine. Highest recommendation!! Luxury.

https://abadia-retuerta.com/en/

https://objectivefoodie.com/2023/01/21/mannix-the-magic-of-roasting-lamb/

Another recommendation for Parador de Lerma. Very nice accommodations, and Lerma is a good base for the area.

But Lerma is not in the Ribera del Duero.

That is correct that the Parador is not in the Ribera Del Duero area, but is only a 30 minutes drive from Aranda de Duero. Literally speaking, Ribera del Duero is a pretty small area; roughly running 25 miles north to south and 30 miles east to west. Not being in Ribera Del Duero does not alter the fact that the Parador is in a good location for exploring the area.

We’re just providing options. The OP can do with the information as she pleases.

Yes...a good option. And Aranda is a lechazo center of Spain so that's a plus, too!!

We will have 5 or 6 nights to include Segovia, Salamanca and Ribera del Duero. I think we will spend a night at the Parador de Lerma. Thanks for the all the great suggestions, looking forward to reading more.

A big second for Jaime´s recommendations. Besides being beautiful, Covarrubias is the resting place of a norwegian princess who married a Spanish prince, but she died of homesickness in 1262 at the age of 28.

Another interesting place might be a visit to the Natural Park of Cañon del Rio Lobo. There are some companies that rent bicycles and the Hermitage of San Bartolome is a lovely excursion.

@ekscrunchy, the Abadia-Retuerta was where Antonio Banderas´ daughter got married. Lots of glamour.

It would be easy to spend the better part of a day in the park dlindstrom mentioned. There’s a small admission to go into the chapel, but there was no charge to enter the park when we visited. The chapel is a half mile from the parking area. In addition to the chapel, there’s a cave and a number of walking paths. I don’t recall seeing any facilities, food or comfort, by the chapel so ensure you have plenty of water and snacks when you go. The canyon is in the middle of nowhere and a car is a must for reaching it.

Fun fact: the chapel was built by the Knights Templar and was constructed on a site equidistant from the eastern and westernmost points in Spain.

If you want nature, there is a good park near Sepulveda and not far from Segovia---its home to a species of vulture:

https://www.spain.info/en/nature/hoces-rio-duraton-natural-park/

And besides having much association with the Knights Templar, Sepulveda is a picture-perfect town with a gorgeous main plaza, ringed with some of the best restaurants to eat suckling baby lamb in all of Spain. I'm probably getting way off the subject here but I cannot control myself when it comes to inserting food into any discussion of Spain..sorry!! A very nice hotel in town is the HOSPEDERIA DE LOS TEMPLARIOS...inn of the knights Templar.

And to think..we were there at Retuerta before Sr. Banderas daughter got married!! That hotel is quite a place, even if the spa was a little fancy for the likes of us!! We used it as a base to.....drive to various restaurants serving suckling lamb...but wine is their main focus...

Maybe you could explore this area further and leave the detour to Salamanca for your next trip..