Pago de Arínzano

The Arínzano estate carries one of Spain's longest documented winemaking histories, with records tracing ownership to 1055 when Sancho Fortuñones de Arínzano received the land. The estate passed through prominent noble families, including Lope de Eulate and the Marqués de Zabalegui, before falling into disrepair following various Spanish upheavals. The Chivite family replanted the vineyards in 1988 and invested heavily in the property, commissioning architect Rafael Moneo to design the winery in 1997. In 2007, Pago de Arínzano was awarded the Vino de Pago designation, becoming the fifth Spanish estate to receive this status and the first located outside Castilla-La Mancha. Tenute del Mondo took over operations in 2015.

• Estate first documented in 1055 under Sancho Fortuñones de Arínzano
• Chivite family replanted vineyards in 1988 after a period of disrepair
• Awarded Vino de Pago status in 2007, the highest Spanish wine classification
• First Vino de Pago in Northern Spain; ownership transferred to Tenute del Mondo in 2015

Arínzano occupies a valley formed at the edge of the Pyrenees Mountains in Navarra, Spain. The Ega River winds directly through the vineyard, playing a central role in moderating temperatures and shaping the estate's distinctive microclimate. North Atlantic influences combine with over 2,500 hours of annual sunlight to create conditions that promote slow, even ripening. The soils are notably complex, comprising a mixture of loams, sand, limestone, limonite, gypsum, and dolomites. This combination of factors supports the production of elegant, structured wines with genuine complexity.

• Valley setting at the edge of the Pyrenees with North Atlantic climatic influence
• Ega River provides critical temperature moderation and diurnal variation
• Over 2,500 hours of annual sunlight support slow, even ripening
• Soils include loams, sand, limestone, limonite, gypsum, and dolomites

Arínzano is planted with Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay across its 128 classified hectares. The estate specialises in premium red blends and white wines, with the cooler valley microclimate and slow ripening conditions producing wines noted for elegance and complexity rather than power. The Chardonnay, in particular, has earned international recognition; the 2010 Gran Vino Chardonnay won Champion Best of Show at the 2017 Houston Livestock Show International Wine Competition, becoming the first white wine and first Spanish wine to claim that title.

• Planted varieties: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay
• Specialises in premium red blends and single-variety white wines
• Slow ripening in the river-cooled valley produces elegant, complex wine profiles
• 2010 Gran Vino Chardonnay named Champion Best of Show at the 2017 Houston Livestock Show International Wine Competition

Tenute del Mondo has operated Arínzano since 2015, continuing the premium focus established during the Chivite era. The estate holds WWF certification for environmental responsibility, underscoring a commitment to sustainable viticulture. The winery building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rafael Moneo in 1997, is considered an architectural landmark in its own right. With 355 total hectares and 128 under the Vino de Pago classification, Arínzano remains one of Spain's most significant single-estate wine properties.

• Tenute del Mondo has owned and operated the estate since 2015
• WWF-certified for environmental responsibility and sustainable viticulture
• Winery designed by architect Rafael Moneo in 1997
• 128 of the estate's 355 hectares are classified under the Vino de Pago DOP