An incomparable location, at the very source of the River Guadiana 1,000m above sea level, with poor soil and 98 hectares of manicured vines, perfectly in tune with the surrounding natural environment. Commitment to ever-improving quality in their wines through the application of cutting-edge oenological research. In sum, a lust for perfection applied to making natural wines that are true to the highest benchmarks. This is the underlying philosophy at Bodegas y Viñedos Sánchez Muliterno, endorsed by DO Pago Guijoso.

1985 saw the planting of the first vines at the El Guijoso estate. The first wine was made by purely traditional methods in 1990. Having verified the estate’s potential, the foundations of a bodega were built in 1993. However, official endorsement for DO Pago Guijoso only came in 1995, making it Spain’s second single-estate DO, or ‘pago’, after DO Dominio de Valdepusa.

The vineyard and bodega sit against a natural environment of breathtaking beauty, located in the municipality of El Bonillo, on the border between the provinces of Albacete and Ciudad Real, at the source of the River Guadiana, and close to the Ruidera lakes. This whole area, including the nearby Montesinos Cave, was documented by Cervantes as part of the route covered his Don Quixote in the course of his adventures. The soil is sandy loam, with a cover of pebbles, or ‘guijos’ in the local parlance – hence the estate’s name El Guijoso.

At Pago Guijoso the vineyards lie at 1,000 m above sea level, meaning they are blessed by a sunny climate by are also exposed to low temperatures, particularly on summer nights – a factor that contributes to asserting the grape’s aroma. The soil is poor and therefore ideal for making quality wines. The estate currently holds 98 hectares under vines, of which 33 were plated between 1985 and 1992 and are therefore aged between 14 and 21. The remainder is planted under the Smart Dysson method, which implies a significant increase of the vegetative surface that is exposed to the sun and air. Varieties plated at Pago Guijoso are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The 58 hectares under older vines are covered by the Designation, while the rest are used to make wine under Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla.

Winding up the 6km dirt track stemming off a local road to reach the bodega, one would hardly expect the display of cutting-edge technology installed to ensure premium quality in the establishment’s limited production.

Quality is precisely one of Bodegas y Viñedos Sánchez Muliterno’s guiding principles. This commitment led them to apply for ISO 9001:2000 certification from BVQI, Spain’s leading certification agency. They are amongst the few wineries in the world that have ensured comprehensive certification of the entire winemaking process, from the vineyard to the ageing cellar.