Country: Spain > Ribera del Duero
Bodegas Arrocal
Founded in 2002 by third-generation winegrowers Moises Calvo and Rosa Arroyo, Arrocal emerged from a challenging wet vintage when a buyer backed out of a fruit contract. Undeterred, they hand-thinned botrytis-affected grapes, borrowed a tank, and produced their first wine. Initially intended for bulk sale, the wine was ultimately bottled under their own label, Arrocal—a name derived from the first syllables of their surnames, Arroyo and Calvo. Located in Gumiel de Mercado, within the Ribera del Duero D.O., the winery is now joined by their sons, Rodrigo and Asier, representing the fourth generation. Some vineyards were planted by Moises and Rosa’s parents, while newer ones have been established by their sons. A new winery, operational since 2005, utilizes gravity-fed processes to minimize handling, ensuring maximum fruit expression and finesse. The wine’s quality is further enhanced through temperature-controlled fermentations, short macerations, and gentle pressing.
- Appellation: Ribera del Duero
- Owner: Moises Calvo and Rosa Arroyo
- Winemaker: Isaac Fernández Montaña, assisted by Asier Calvo
- Varieties Grown: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Albillo (white).
- Hectares/Age of Vines: 80 Hectares / 20-80+ years old
- Altitude/Soil: 830-900 meters / Alluvial sand, clay and pebbles
- Farming Methods: Practicing Organic, undergoing certification