In 1990, Danish winemaker Peter Sisseck arrived in Spain to tend to a new estate, Hacienda Monasterio, unaware of the new legacy he'd carve for Spanish wines. After 5 years working at the estate, Sisseck would establish Pingus, a wine estate that'd become an instant industry icon. With praise from Robert Parker, who claimed it to be “one of the greatest... young red wines [he had] ever tasted," and a fabled story of the first vintage prices skyrocketing, Pingus quickly garnered a reputation as Spanish excellence and continues to carry that torch nearly 3 decades later. 

Spain's Danish Delight

When arriving in Ribera del Duero in 1990, Peter Sisseck entered a land known for old vineyards, poor farming, and low-quality wines. Though many looked down on the region, Sisseck saw enormous potential in the region's temperamental fields and hot, arid conditions. While working as head winemaker at Hacienda Monasterio, Sisseck dreamed about starting his own estate and was confident about producing strong Tempranillo in the vineyards.

In 1995, Peter Sisseck finally made the jump and founded Pingus, named after his childhood nickname. The project began as Spain's first "garage wine," with very low yields from very old vineyards. Low funds forced early Pingus production to take place in a rented winery and the first vintage was only released to 325 cases, setting a new precedent in Spanish wine. As many looked down upon "garagiste" wines, Peter intentionally created Pingus to be a rare and valuable item. 

Pingus Wine's Overnight Success

Seemingly overnight, Pingus transformed from a garagiste to Spain's most expensive bottling. After Sisseck brought the first vintage to showcase at Bordeaux en primeur tastings in March 1996, the drink gained instant acclaim from Robert Parker, scoring the wine 96-100 points. And, by the end of the week, Pingus was featured on the back cover of The Wine Advocate. 10 years later, a new feature in the magazine included a profound statement illustrating the estate's long-term success; "In the price/quality sweepstakes, this might be Spain's finest wine."

Like a moth to a flame, wine aficionados swarmed to buy the 1995 Pingus vintage, causing prices to skyrocket. This was further dramatized in the American market after 75 of the first 325 cases were lost after the ship carrying the wine sank in the North Atlantic. While the wine started at $200, prices rose to $495 a bottle after the infamous shipwreck.  Such fairytale stories led Pingus to become an overnight phenom in fine wine, with a meteoric rise that would only continue to grow.

Many Imitators, But None Like The Original

Pingus became one of the early adopters of biodynamic farming, beginning these processes in 2001. The estate uses no fertilizers or pesticides on its vines, which are allowed to grow old and gnarled, with respect to the terroir. Low yields and minimal intervention also contribute to the legendary wine produced, with Sisseck believing it is key to pay meticulous attention to each grape and vine, contributing to the extraordinary concentration of each bottling. 

The wine is fermented in the steel of large wooden vats, then raised in 100% new French oak. Such techniques have been duplicated by other estates, however, none have been able to capture the mixture of power and elegance that Pingus have. While Tempranillo is known as being strong and rich, Sisseck's formula has tamed the region's natural power and given more balance and depth to the wine.

Spain's Most Expensive Wine Scores High Praise

With a reputation as a country's most pricey wine comes large expectations for taste, quality, and longevity- each of which Pingus wines excel in. The original 1995 vintage is known for its oustanding prasie from Robert Parker, who labeled the bottle a "legendary effort." Recent years have been just as kind to Pingus, with both the 2018 and 2020 vintages gaining 100 and 99-point scores, respectively, from Parker. Furthermore, Decanter magazine stated the 2018 bottling was "a magnificent expression of both Ribera del Duero in general and the estate’s tiny vineyard in particular."

Adding a bottle of Pingus Tempranillo to your cellar is an expression of true love for fine wine and winemakers who dedicate their life to the craft. With a mythical story, complex flavors, and ingenious techniques, Pingus transcends not only traditional Tempranillo, but all of Spanish wine.