Wherever the name of the Dane Peter Sissek appears, huge expectations are raised, which are then fulfilled in full. The undisputed star of the Spanish oenology scene has written Spanish wine history with his small, exclusive Dominio de Pingus project, but his real job is as winemaker for the Hacienda Monasterio, which, like Pingus, is located in the now famous Ribera del Duero region. The history of the hacienda dates back to the end of the 19th century, when not even a handful of wineries produced wine in this rugged landscape. At that time, the winery and its vineyards belonged to the Lecanda family, who are also considered pioneers of the region. At the end of the 20th century, the French architect Philippe Mazières bought the estate, who also had a wealth of experience in viticulture, including expertise from the top Bordeaux wine estate Chateau Margaux. Peter Sissek then joined him, and still runs the winery together with Carlos de la Fuente. The hacienda cultivates 160 hectares in prime locations between the towns of Pesquera and Valbuena. 80 hectares are planted with the local variety of Tempranillo, Tinto Fino, while the other half is dedicated to the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec grape varieties. In contrast to many other bodegas, the parcels are planted with 4,000 vines rather than 2,000. However, this does not serve the purpose of driving up yields here, the opposite is the case: competition between the vines drastically reduces yields. And, of course, the parcels are cultivated according to certified organic standards. The wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and matured in French oak barriques. However, the wood is not dominant, it rather subtly emphasises the fruit. And of course Peter Sissek gives the wines from Hacienda Monasterio the same care and attention to detail that has made his "Pingus" a cult wine. Crianza and Reserva consist mainly of Tinto Fino, which is supplemented and refined with other grape varieties depending on the characteristics of the vintage. It goes without saying that these wines are highly regarded by critics, experts and connoisseurs.
