For a wine traveler it is hard to beat beginning the day at Pago de Carraovejas, Peñafiel. After all Pago de Carraovejas, one of the oldest family owned in the region, produces some of the best known and sought after wines. Our day began with an introduction to the winery in the vineyard, followed by a winery tour, and one of the best wine and food pairings ever. This is not a surprise given Pago de Carraovejas was founded by José María Ruiz. During our visit we learnt about its exciting history and gazed into its future. Pago de Carraovejas is all about living the dream in Ribera del Duero wine country!
Wine & Food Pairing, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
Pago de Carraovejas, Peñafiel, Ribera del Duero © SpaswinefoodPago de Carraovejas
When we pulled into the driveway we were surrounded by spring time vines, as we headed to the winery's parking lot. Pago de Carraovejas is a stunning winery, with amazing views all around it. Moreover, you can see the historic castle in the distance.
Views of the Castle from Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
A Closer Look: Castle View from Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
We first met in the vineyard near the winery. This opportunity to take in those awesome views was not overlooked.
Pago de Carraovejas Vineyard © Spaswinefood
Pago de Carraovejas, Peñafiel was founded in 1988. The name Pago de Carraovejas can be translated as the place where the sheep walk by. The background story to Pago de Carraovejas is José María Ruiz, Pago's founder and principal shareholder attended the First World Sommelier Contest held in Milan in 1971. That experience led to his desire to start his own restaurant, and produce his own wines. In 1982 when he opened the Restaurante José María in Segovia, he eliminated the traditional pottery pitcher and began to serve bottled wine, always paying careful attention to the serving protocol. His determination to secure the best quality wines for his restaurant later led to launching a winery project with a group of wine loving Segovians. In 1987 Pago de Carraovejas was established in Peñafiel, more specifically on the slopes of Carraovejas. The first vintage, in 1991, was the beginning of Pago de Carraovejas. Today Pago Carraovejas is part Alma Carraovejas, a family-owned collection of historic Spanish wine estates that produce iconic wines. These premier wines are from Pago de Carraovejas, Milsetentayseis (1076), Ossian, Viña Meín · Emilio Rojo, and Marañones.
WineMine Taking in Pago de Carraovejas Views © Spaswinefood
After our vineyard orientation and historic overview we toured a winery with its state of the art technology. Capitalizing on innovation and tradition Pago de Carraovejas produces some of the best known wines in the region.
Top View of Tanks, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
Side View of Tanks, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
We began with the fermentation tanks and then it was onto the barrels.
Large Barrels, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
Onto the Barrels, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
Cellaring the Wines, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
We were introduced to variety of barrels used for storing and aging the wines. One was a wooden egg-shaped vat.
A Special Wine Barrel Room, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
In search of the best way to age wine in 2018 Pago de Carrovejas introduced the ovum, an ovoid shaped wooden vat. The ovum certainly adds further to the discussion of the influence of contact surfaces during the aging process.
Discussing Merits of the Ovum, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
After visiting the vineyard and touring the winery we enjoyed the most fantastic wine and food pairing.
Alma Carraovejas Collection Wine and Food Pairing
During the session we were introduced to award winning wines paired with modern style cuisine. We were introduced to wines from the Alma Carraovejas collection.
Wine & Food Pairing, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
Let's take a look at the wine and food pairings.
Wine Tasting, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
The first wine Alma Carraovejas collection wines was from Viña Mein.
Let the Tasting Begin, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
Viña Mein, O Pequeno, Val Do Avia, DO Ribeiro 2020
Viña Mein, O Pequeno, Val Do Avia, DO Ribeiro 2020 © Spaswinefood
Viña Mein, O Pequeno, Val Do Avia, DO Ribeiro 2020 (back label) © Spaswinefood
O Pequeno is blend of local Ribeiro varieties: Treixadura, Godello, Albariño and Torrontés.
The presentation of food pairings with the wines was first class.
Food Pairing with Mein, O Pequeno, DO Ribeiro 2020 © Spaswinefood
The second Alma Carraovejas collection wine was from Ossian.
Ossian, Quintaluna, Castilla y Leon 2020
Ossian, Quintaluna, Castilla y Leon 2020 © Spaswinefood
Ossian, Quintaluna, Castilla y Leon 2020 (back label) © Spaswinefood
In 2016, Ossian joined the Alma Carraovejas family. The main goal were to recover the ancestral vines of this exceptional inheritance, and utilize unique winemaking methods to insure the authentic potential of Segovian Verdejo. Although Ossian is in the heart of the Rueda DO, these wines are classified as Castilla y León.
The pairing with this wine follows.
Food Pairing with Ossian, Quintaluna, Castilla y Leon 2020 © Spaswinefood
Now, for a second look at the two white wines and food pairings.
White Wines with Veggie Food Pairings © Spaswinefood
The presentation of the non-vegetarian pairings with the white wines was equally as inviting.
White Wines with Food Pairings © Spaswinefood
White Wines with Food Pairings © Spaswinefood
Next, the red wine tasting began with the third Alma Carraovejas wine collection.
Bodega Marañones, 30000 Maravedies, Vinos de DO Madrid 2020
Bodega Marañones, 30000 Maravedies, Vinos de DO Madrid 2020 © Spaswinefood
Bodega Marañones, 30000 Maravedies, Vinos de DO Madrid 2020 (back label) © Spaswinefood
The Garnacha is grown on 50-70 years old vines, the signature plantings of the winery. They reside at an altitude of 2625 feet on the hillside of Sierra de Gredos facing north. The wines is 90% Garnacha and 10% other.
Food Pairing with Marañones, 30000 Maravedies, Vinos de DO Madrid 2020 © Spaswinefood
Food Pairing with Marañones, 30000 Maravedies, Vinos de DO Madrid 2020 © Spaswinefood
Last wine from the Alma Carraovejas collection was from Pago de Carraovejas. This Pago de Carraovejas wine is considered a genuine iconic wine from Ribera del Duero.
Pago de Carraovejas, Ribera del Duero DO 2020
Pago de Carraovejas, Ribera del Duero DO 2020 © Spaswinefood
Pago de Carraovejas, Ribera del Duero DO 2020 (back label) © Spaswinefood
The last wine was paired with pasta.
Food Pairing with Pago de Carraovejas, Ribera del Duero DO 2020 © Spaswinefood
Food Pairing with Pago de Carraovejas 2020 © Spaswinefood
I enjoyed tasting these very special wines from Alma Carraovejas Collection.
Alma Carraovejas Wine and Food Pairing, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
It was indeed an excellent food and wine pairing. The wines paired well with modern style cuisine. José María Ruiz would have approved.
Tasting Alma Carraovejas Collection Wines, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
During the wine tasting we enjoyed the very best wine and food pairing. If you like being spoiled with excellent wines these award winning wines from the Alma Carraovejas Collection is a great place to begin. For sure Pago de Carraovejas is all about living the dream. We also had the most amazing guide during our Pago de Carraovejas visit. Some of their wines are distributed in the US by Merchants of Thirst. Ribera del Duero Wine Country
Ribera del Duero Wine Country © Spaswinefood
Ribera del Duero DO is located in northern Spain's Castilla y León region. There on the northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, along the sides of the Duero River, the wine region occupies the southern plains of Burgos province, extends west to Valladolid, and into parts of Segovia and Doris provinces. The appellation received DO status in 1982. In 2008, it was approved for Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status however, it never pursued this classification, so it remains a DO appellation. It is one of Spain's best red wine regions. It is known for its Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), which is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, up to 25 %. The appellation is almost exclusively red and rosado (rosé) wines. To be recognized as DO, its red wines must contain a minimum of 75 % Tempranillo. No more than 5 % Garnacha or Albillo, in total, may be added. Its Rosado wines must have a minimum of 50 % of the authorized red varieties. The white wine produced, mostly for local consumption, is Albillo. DO regulations require at least 75 % of Albillo grapes be used.
Red Poppies, Ribera del Duero © Spaswinefood
Spring time was great timing to checkout the wines, the cuisine and admire the landscape, dotted with poppies. Everywhere our vine-filled Ribera del Duero explorations took us, poppies and vineyards doted the landscape.
Spring Time Poppies, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
From Pago de Carraovejas it was onto boutique winery Mélida Wines for a tasting and lunch, concluding with a wine tasting at Convento Oreja. We would end day with a Prado & Co Vermouth Master Class before dinner at our hotel. During our Ribera del Duero travels we passed the historic castle on the hill overlooking Peñfiel many times.
Historic Castle, Ribero del Duero © Spaswinefood
Historic Castle, Peñafiel, Ribera del Duero © Spaswinefood
Ribera del Duero's Pago de Carraovejas is where the wine is oh so great and the poppies dot the landscape. For sure when José María Ruiz founded Pago de Carraovejas is all about living the dream that has grown to include the Alma Carraovejas Collection. I loved discovering the beauty of this region where its red wines take central stage, with rosé and white wines being a great addition to the overall wine portfolio. In the case of Pago de Carraovejas its story goes beyond that with cuisine being an internal part of its story. I invite you to join me in my wine travels in Spain and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook. I am so looking forward to sharing more on my recent vine-filled explorations in Spain.
CHEERS!
Sharon
May 2023
Ribera del Duero, Spain
© Spaswinefood
Ribera del Duero Travels with WineMine Friends © Spaswinefood
Spring Time Poppies, Ribera del Duero © Spaswinefood
Wine & Food Pairing, Pago de Carraovejas © Spaswinefood
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