Pago de Arínzano

Few wine estates anywhere in the world can claim a documented history as long as Arínzano. In 1055, the King of Navarra granted the estate to nobleman Sancho Fortuñones de Arínzano, and monks subsequently cultivated its vines to provide wine for pilgrims traveling the Camino de Santiago. Like many European estates, Arínzano fell into disuse after the phylloxera epidemic struck in 1890 and the land lay dormant for nearly a century. The Chivite family rediscovered and replanted the estate in 1988, ultimately securing Vino de Pago status in 2007. The King and Queen of Spain inaugurated the new winery at the turn of the 21st century. In 2015, the SPI Group through its Tenute del Mondo portfolio acquired the property.

• Estate documented from 1055; one of Spain's oldest continuously associated wine properties
• Monks produced wine for Camino de Santiago pilgrims on the estate
• Phylloxera in 1890 ended cultivation; Chivite family restored it beginning in 1988
• Acquired by Tenute del Mondo (SPI Group) in 2015

Arínzano sits in a valley formed by the Pyrenees mountains and crossed by the Ega River, located approximately 25 miles southwest of Pamplona in the Navarra DOP. The temperate continental climate carries Atlantic influence, and the Cierzo wind along with the Ega River keeps the site cooler than neighboring areas. Over 2,500 hours of annual sunshine ripen the fruit fully, while significant diurnal temperature variation preserves acidity and aromatic complexity. The soils are a layered mix of loams, sand, limestone, limonite, gypsum, and dolomites originating from both Neogene and Triassic geological eras, providing excellent drainage and mineral diversity.

• Temperate continental climate with Atlantic influence and over 2,500 hours of annual sunlight
• Cierzo wind and Ega River moderate temperatures, keeping Arínzano cooler than surrounding areas
• Soils include loams, sand, limestone, limonite, gypsum, and dolomites from Neogene and Triassic eras
• Significant diurnal temperature variation supports aromatic development and natural acidity

The estate covers 355 hectares in total, with 128 hectares classified under the Vino de Pago designation. Planted varieties are Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Grapes are hand-harvested using a double-selection process to ensure only the highest-quality fruit reaches the winery. The bodega, designed by Rafael Moneo, operates as a state-of-the-art gravity-fed, temperature-controlled facility. As required under Vino de Pago rules, all vinification, aging, and bottling take place on-site. A restored 18th-century mansion, the Marqués de Zabalegui, stands on the estate, and the entire operation is managed under sustainable viticulture principles in partnership with WWF/Adena.

• 128 hectares under VP classification within the 355-hectare estate
• Varieties: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay
• Hand-harvested with double selection; gravity-fed winery by architect Rafael Moneo
• On-site vinification, aging, and bottling required by Vino de Pago rules

Vino de Pago is the highest tier in Spain's wine classification system, ranking above DOCa. It recognizes single estates with a unique terroir, an established reputation, and full control over grape growing and winemaking on the property. Arínzano received this status in 2007, becoming the fifth Spanish estate to earn it and the first in northern Spain. The classification demands that all production, from vinification through to bottling, occurs within the estate's own facilities, a standard Arínzano meets through its purpose-built Moneo-designed bodega.

• Vino de Pago sits above DOCa as Spain's highest wine classification tier
• Arínzano designated in 2007: fifth overall in Spain, first in the north
• Classification requires all vinification, aging, and bottling to occur on the estate
• Single-estate identity and demonstrated unique terroir are core VP requirements