Ismael Arroyo

A family-run winery in the heart of Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Ismael Arroyo is the creator of Valsotillo, a stellar Tempranillo admired for its ripe berry notes, complexity, and elegant finish. From its base in Sotillo de la Ribera, a small valley village near the medieval city of Burgos, the winery is one of the most respected in the region and was one of the founders of the DO. Although founded in 1979 (just a few years before Ribera del Duero became an officially recognized DO), winemaking is an old Arroyo family tradition. The family has been tending grapes in the region for more than 400 years and has enjoyed commercial success throughout the 20th century.

The winery itself has a long history as well. Wines are aged in a spectacular 16th-century labyrinthine cellar that tunnels its way through two-thirds of a kilometer of underground galleries. Considered one of the world’s most exceptional wine cellars, this ‘cathedral of wine’ permits Bodegas Ismael Arroyo to keep its luscious wines in silent, still, cool conditions.

Like most wineries in the area, the bodega keeps things simple by focusing on one grape — Tinto del País, the somewhat callously named “Country Red” that’s also known as Tinto Fino or Tempranillo. Grapes are harvested by hand, and the harvest in this part of Ribera del Duero usually begins in early October. The flagship wine, Valsotillo, is among Ribera del Duero’s very best and is almost always an outstanding creation, whether a Crianza, Reserva, or Gran Reserva. The Valsotillo VS (Viñedos Seleccionados; Selected Vines) is exclusively a Reserva wine made from carefully selected grapes. The Mesorneros de Castilla is a well-regarded but less complex range, including rosé wines, young reds, and a red aged 6 months in oak barrels. The vines, some of which are 80 years old, grow in clayey, gravelly soils. We are pleased to offer our VIP clients private tours of Valsotillo as part of our greater luxury tours in Ribera del Duero and Spain. Contact us for more information.