Alma Carraovejas USA

The holidays are here and that means many opportunities to gather with friends and family around a table, and of course, those tables will need wine. Here are a few suggestions from our cellar to you: 2020 Pago de Carraovejas Ribera del Duero Cuesta de Las Liebres, 95 pts (JS) 2021 Milsetentayseis Ribera del Duero Tinto, 95 pts (JS) 2022 Milsetentayseis Ribera del Duero La Pena, 94 pts (JS) 2021 Aiurri Rioja Salas, 94 pts (JS) And while these wines have all recently been highly-rated, the most important thing is the heart, passion, and tireless dedication of the people behind every single one of our labels. We know these wines will be a part of your special memories, and that, for us, is an honor, and why we’re committed to sharing authentic wines, grounded in place, but with limitless possibilities. Our wines are available across the USA and ready to decorate your tables, fill your glasses, and inspire your memories.

Milsetentayseis and Ossian were recently featured on James Suckling’s highly anticipated Top 100 Wines of Spain 2024 list. In this comprehensive guide, Senior Editor Zekun Shuai explores the stories behind these standout selections, pointing out what sets them apart and how they earned their place among the best. “The Highest Ranked Ribera del Duero” #32 MILSETENTAYSEIS (1076) RIBERA DEL DUERO TINTO 2021 Score: 95 Immediately arresting on the nose with its jumpy aromas of dried herbs, white pepper, mushrooms and minerals on top of the red cherries and berries. Full-bodied and powerful, with an abundance of chalky tannins. Long and very focused. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. “The only wine from Rueda in the TOP 100” #89 OSSIAN Castilla y León Viñas Viejas de Segovia 2022 Score: 94 Refined and minerally nose with a touch of sour cream to the white fruit and smoked herbs. The full-bodied palate highlights texture and tension before the long, creamy finish. Drink or hold. Alma Carraovejas USA Zekun Shuai #Top100WinesSpain #RiberaDelDuero #TopWines2024

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We’re excited to share the latest reviews from Tim Atkin’s Ribera del Duero 2024 Special Report: Milsetentayseis Tinto 2021 - 96 points This remarkable Tinto Fino comes from 85 small parcels on clay and mica-rich soils, located between 900 and 1,000 metres in Fuentenebro. Lithe, chiseled, perfumed and ethereal, it's a Ribera del Duero for Pinot Noir or Mencía lovers, with lots of stony minerality, redcurrant, strawberry and pomegranate flavours, subtle 50% new wood and a bright, tapering finish. Drink from 2026-35 Pago de Carraovejas Cuesta de las Liebres 2020 - 93 points Cuesta de la Liebres hails from a 3.36-hectare parcel of the same name in Peñafiel, located between 850 and 900 metres, close to the páramo, or high altitude moorland. Now aged in 60% new wood - it used to be 100% - this is intense, spicy and concentrated, all mulberry and summer berry fruit, supple tannins and supporting acidity. Ripe to be sure, but not excessively so. Drink from 2027-35 Pago de Carraovejas El Anejón 2020 - 93 points El Anejón uses grapes from a 9.3-hectare vineyard that's spread across the terraces around the bodega and is a well-judged assemblage of Tinto Fino, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot. Aged in 25% new 600-litre barrels, it shows the intensity and full body of a comparatively warm site, with aromas of wild herbs and Asian spices, perfumed oak, fig and summer berry flavours and supple, palate-caressing tannins. Drink from 2025-30 Pago de Carraovejas 2022 - 92 points “The hot vintage” is how Almudena Calvo correctly describes the 2022 vintage, which produced a Pago de Carraovejas with 15.5% alcohol. The wine is a little firm and jammy, with slightly chewy tannins, but the spicy oak is well handled, complementing the blend of Tinto Fino, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Forward and floral with succulent mulberry and bramble fruit. Drink from 2025-30 Milsetentayseis La Peña 2022 - 93 points La Peña uses grapes from a single, 0.46-hectare parcel at 948 metres in isolated Fuentenebro. Marrying Bobal, Viura and 25 other co-planted varieties, it's an intriguing and unique field blend that produces one of the best rosados in the region. Stony, sappy and focused, it has a touch of oak, cherry stone, watermelon and candyfloss flavours and good underlying structure. Drink from 2024-27.

We’re excited to share the latest reviews from Tim Atkin’s Ribera del Duero 2024 Special Report: Milsetentayseis Tinto 2021 - 96 points This remarkable Tinto Fino comes from 85 small parcels on clay and mica-rich soils, located between 900 and 1,000 metres in Fuentenebro. Lithe, chiseled, perfumed and ethereal, it's a Ribera del Duero for Pinot Noir or Mencía lovers, with lots of stony minerality, redcurrant, strawberry and pomegranate flavours, subtle 50% new wood and a bright, tapering finish. Drink from 2026-35 Pago de Carraovejas Cuesta de las Liebres 2020 - 93 points Cuesta de la Liebres hails from a 3.36-hectare parcel of the same name in Peñafiel, located between 850 and 900 metres, close to the páramo, or high altitude moorland. Now aged in 60% new wood - it used to be 100% - this is intense, spicy and concentrated, all mulberry and summer berry fruit, supple tannins and supporting acidity. Ripe to be sure, but not excessively so. Drink from 2027-35 Pago de Carraovejas El Anejón 2020 - 93 points El Anejón uses grapes from a 9.3-hectare vineyard that's spread across the terraces around the bodega and is a well-judged assemblage of Tinto Fino, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot. Aged in 25% new 600-litre barrels, it shows the intensity and full body of a comparatively warm site, with aromas of wild herbs and Asian spices, perfumed oak, fig and summer berry flavours and supple, palate-caressing tannins. Drink from 2025-30 Pago de Carraovejas 2022 - 92 points “The hot vintage” is how Almudena Calvo correctly describes the 2022 vintage, which produced a Pago de Carraovejas with 15.5% alcohol. The wine is a little firm and jammy, with slightly chewy tannins, but the spicy oak is well handled, complementing the blend of Tinto Fino, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot. Forward and floral with succulent mulberry and bramble fruit. Drink from 2025-30 Milsetentayseis La Peña 2022 - 93 points La Peña uses grapes from a single, 0.46-hectare parcel at 948 metres in isolated Fuentenebro. Marrying Bobal, Viura and 25 other co-planted varieties, it's an intriguing and unique field blend that produces one of the best rosados in the region. Stony, sappy and focused, it has a touch of oak, cherry stone, watermelon and candyfloss flavours and good underlying structure. Drink from 2024-27

Just announced… Vinous Media LLC Top 100 of 2024 #100: 2020 Pago de Carraovejas “This wine exemplifies a modern expression of Ribera, crafted in a style that resonates with international wine lovers. With a production of 70,000 cases, it represents both quality and accessibility, making it a worthy contender for our Top 100 Wines of the Year.” The 2020 Pago de Carraovejas is a blend of 92% Tempranillo, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot from Querada del Botija in Peñafiel, Ribera del Duero. Aged for 12 months in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels, it’s garnet-red with a purple sheen. The aromas begin with enticing notes of strawberry, blackcurrant, sour cherry, spice and finely tuned oaky layers. On the palate, it’s dry and juicy, with fine-grained tannins and a chalky texture invigorated by well-balanced acidity. Compared with previous house vintages, this is a precise new style for Ribera del Duero. 94 points – Joaquín Hidalgo, September 2023

Tomorrow is #TempranilloDay and we want to pay a brief homage to one of our favorite grape varieties. Tempranillo is Spain’s flagship red grape, covering more than 500,000 acres of the Iberian country. Its name is derived from temprano, meaning “early” in Spanish and referring to the grape’s ability to ripen sooner than many red varieties during the growing season. Tempranillo thrvies in regions with hot days and cool nights, such as Rioja and Ribera del Duero, where you’ll find it growing at three of our properties: Aiurri in Rioja Alavesa, and at both Pago de Carraovejas and Milsetentayseis in Ribera del Duero. Tempranillo is also known for its thick skins, contributing to its deep color and moderate tannins. Typical aromas range from red to black fruit (such as cherry, plum, and blackberry), along with earthy, herbal, and sometimes leathery or tobacco-like notes, especially when aged in oak. The wines pair beautifully with hearty, flavorful foods that match its bold structure and earthy flavors such as roasted lamb, pork, and game meats. The typically bright acidity of Tempranillo also makes it complementary to grilled vegetables, cheeses, jamón, stews, and any range of Spanish-inspired dishes. What grows together, goes together! Hungry and thirsty now? We are! It’s time to open a Tempranillo. Which of our Tempranillos would you like to try first - Rioja or Ribera?

The curtain has closed on harvest 2024 for the wineries of Alma Carraovejas. Each year is a unique production begun by Mother Nature and stewarded by our dedicated and talented teams of viticulture and enology specialists without whom this wouldn’t be possible. Below are a few pictures of the behind the scenes work carried out this season. This is more than our work, this is our passion. A tribute to those who came before, a promise to those who will follow, and a humble performance dedicated to you. We look forward to sharing the wines of 2024 with you, and to knowing that you will be the main actors of the final scene, carrying our story forward at your tables and in your glasses. Salud!

Alma Carraovejas made the rounds in the USA last week from the Windy City to the Golden Gate with a swing down to Los Angeles. It was a pleasure to taste through our newest releases of Pago de Carraovejas, Aiurri, Milsetentayseis, Viña Meín, Emilio Rojo, and Ossian. Keep an eye out in your fave local restaurants and bottle shops in Chicago, San Francisco, and LA. You don’t want to miss out on these exquisite Spanish wines.

You might not expect to find yourself in rugged, rocky mountains just outside of one of Spain’s largest metropolitan cities, but that is exactly where you’ll find Bodegas Marañones. Welcome to the foothills of the Sierra de los Gredos region of the DO Vinos de Madrid, and to Bodegas Marañones, a setting of exceptional scenic richness and a benchmark for the region that has developed a cult-like status among wine enthusiasts for its vibrant Garnachas and bewitching Albillo Reals. Today, we’ll fly over Bodegas Marañones’ bush vines of Garnacha and Albillo Real in soils of slate, granite, and schist. Farmed organically, these “heroic vineyards,” 30 to 70 years in age, are planted in remote areas at altitudes of 2,000 to 3,000 feet. Here the terrain not only pushes the vines of Garnacha and Albillo Real to their limits, but also those tending the vines that can only access the area by mule. But while it may not be easy, the quality of the fruit that results from this continental climate region is second to none.