Why it matters
The producer
The winery and vineyards of Pago Guijoso sit in El Bonillo, Albacete, in Castilla La Mancha. Australian viticulturist Richard Smart designed the vineyard layout, dividing it into separately managed subplots. The entire vineyard follows organic agriculture criteria, so the wines are certified organic.
The range spans Finca La Sabina, El Beso de las Uvas, La Doncella and Piedra a Piedra, using the estate's white and red grape varieties. Parcel separation begins in the vineyard and continues into the cellar.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Pago Guijoso lies on a plateau approximately 1,000 metres above sea level. Strong thermal contrasts slow grape ripening and increase the polyphenol load of the resulting wines.
The vineyards and winery are in El Bonillo, a municipality in Albacete. The altitude gives the site a long, slow ripening pattern, while the designation keeps the wines tied to this single estate.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The estate uses drip irrigation across its crops, reducing water consumption by more than 50 percent. A photovoltaic park produces renewable energy, while water used in winery operations is stored and treated for purification.
The cellar contains six large clay jars dating from 1840, adapted to refine selected wines. It also has two ageing rooms, including one underground room, and more than 500 French oak barrels.
Wines to know
The range in view
Finca La Sabina is the estate's fine, complex, vintage specific single variety range, with ageing and an intense finish. El Beso de las Uvas combines a selected red blend with a Chardonnay from the pago's oldest vineyard, aged on lees.
La Doncella is the light, soft single variety tier, focused on fruit and fragrance. La Doncella Chardonnay 2024 is a dry, organic, vegan white made from 100 percent Chardonnay. Piedra a Piedra blends varieties and methods to balance fruit and maturation.