Pago de Carraovejas was founded in 1988 and is located in the town of Peñafiel in Ribera del Duero. The name translates loosely to “the place where the sheep walk by.” Founder José María Ruiz took a circuitous route to vineyard owner, working his way through the restaurant trade (cook, waiter, then sommelier) in his hometown of Segovia. In 1982 he founded his own restaurant and it soon became one of the city's top-rated venues. The winery was a logical extension of José María insistence on serving his restaurant clients the very best. The fact that he started a winery primairly to provide wine for his restaurant indicates what a perfectionist Ruiz is. The commercial success of the Pago de Carraovejas wines has been spectacular since the first vintage (1991) was released in 1993. In addition to the 100,000 bottles served annually at the restaurant, the wines have become a must for quality restaurant wine lists in all of Spain. Every vintage is quickly sold out and allocations continue to be hard to come by.

Pago de Carraovejas is a single vineyard wine. The Finca is comprised of 140 hectares planted 75% to Tempranillo and 25% to Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines are situated on the southern flank of Carraovejas ridge at 850 meters above sea level. The local micro-climate is harsh and dry - cold winters, hot summers and an annual rainfall less than 400 mm. The soils are low in nutrients with a mix of limestone, chalk and sand. Carefully metered drip irrigation controls vine stress, which along with the terrain, soils and micro-climate, produces grapes of optimum concentration and ripeness, vintage after vintage.

The Finca’s annual production is 50,000 cases and the winery uses a 50/50 combination of French and American oak barrels, of which 33% are new. They currently make Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva styles, and only 10% of the wine is exported.

Not all wines are available in both locations, so if you don't see the wine you're looking for just let us know and we'll be happy to transfer it over for you.

2006 Pago de Carraovejas Crianza - $48
92 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Pago de Carraovejas’ 2006 Crianza is a blend of 85% Tempranillo with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot aged for 12 months in a mix of new and used French and American oak. Purple-colored, it displays an expressive nose of smoke, Asian spices, leather, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. Dense, rich, and concentrated on the palate, it is packed with spicy black fruit, has several years of aging potential, and impeccable balance. Drink this lengthy effort from 2012 to 2021.

2005 Pago de Carraovejas Reserva - $95
Winemaker’s notes: After an extremely hot summer, the harvest occurred between Sept. 22 - Oct. 16. Aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels. Cherry red color with purple tinges. Ripe fruit on the nose with well integrated oak. Flavorful, elegant, sweet tannins. Long and powerful. Made from 90% Tempranillo and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

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