Marques de Griñon

Marqués de Griñón has earned a place in Spanish history. 

Marqués de Griñón - Vino de Pago wine from Toledo

Not only because of a get-together with king and lords in the history of the family, which goes back to the 13th century, but above all because of the innovative viticulture that Carlos Falcós is promoting in his Dominio de Valdepusa winery. New grape varieties, the first Vino de Pago in Spain, the latest cultivation methods - at Marqués de Griñón near Toledo, significant traditions are preserved, but modern wines with a strong character are produced.

The viticulture at Marqués de Griñón

The Marqués de Griñón family winery is located in Malpica de Tajo, in the heart of Spain, and is managed by Carlos Falcós. Together with winemaker Julio López Mourelle, he creates internationally acclaimed wines. The soils of the Griñón vineyards, which include the company's own D.O. Domino de Valdepusa, are mostly limestone soils. The 52 hectares of vineyards are planted with international grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, as well as the less well-known Petit Verdot, which gives the wines from Marqués de Griñón a very special character. The estate's wines are aged in around 1000 French oak barrels in the air-conditioned barrique cellar.

Innovations in Spanish viticulture

The Dominio de Valdepusa estate has been owned by the noble family Marqués de Griñón since 1292, but it was not until 1974 that Carlos Falcó converted the land into a winery. From the very beginning, the winery has been based on innovative cultivation methods, and Marqués de Griñón emerged as the pioneer of drip irrigation for vines. At the same time the first vines of the French variety Cabernet Sauvignon were planted in the region. With the construction of the first climatised ageing cellar in 1989, the winery expanded its capacity and was immediately able to cultivate the first Syrah vines in Spain. Marqués de Griñón rounded off the vine portfolio with Petit Verdot, the third French grape variety planted in 1992. Other sustainable cultivation methods, such as smart Dyson cultivation or electronic sensors to monitor soil and moisture, boosted the cultivation of the best harvested crops.

Dominio de Valdepusa and El Rincón

The Marqués de Griñón winery is made up of two estates that produce wines from different types of soil. Dominio de Valdepusa has been active as a winery since 1974, while El Rincón was inherited by Carlos Falcós in 1994. The philosophy and cultivation methods are the same, but the two wineries differ in their specific characteristics.

Dominio de Valdepusa

• near Toledo in the region of Castilla la Mancha
• about 52 hectares of vineyard area
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Graciano, Merlot
• Clay soils with deep layers of limestone
• continental climate
• Vino de Pago

El Rincón

• near Madrid
• about 9 hectares at up to 485 metres above sea level
• Syrah, Garnacha
• Granite and sandy soils with layers of quartz and clay
• Mediterranean climate
• D.O. Vinos de Madrid

Vino de Pago from Marqués de Griñón

In Spanish, Pago describes a piece of land, often a vineyard or olive grove, with a special character that is later reflected in the wine or olive oil. A Pago is comparable to the French cru or the German Einzellage, which is usually not far from the winery. This offers the winegrower short distances from the vineyard to the cellar. The products from the Pagos are noticeable in taste, as the microclimate, soil, grape variety and cultivation method are clearly reflected in the wine. It was therefore obvious to Carlos Falcós that these Pagos must be protected and regulated by law. After several motions and hearings under the direction of Carlos Falcós, the Spanish Parliament decided to introduce Vino de Pago. Shortly afterwards, the Marqués de Griñón winery was the first to receive the Vino de Pago label for its Dominio de Valdepusa estate, of which there are only 18 in the whole of Spain to date. Terroir is everything - you can taste and feel this with the wines of Marqués de Griñón.