Spain · Ribera del Duero

Dominio de Pingus

Peter Sisseck's Ribera del Duero estate, home to Pingus, Flor de Pingus and the PSI grower project.

The producer

Peter Sisseck made Dominio de Pingus's first vintage in 1995 in a rented winery. The estate is based in Quintanilla de Onésimo, Valladolid, and its Pingus vineyard consists of bush vines planted in 1929, now divided into five subplots reflecting variations in sand and clay and managed biodynamically. Pingus is the grand vin. Flor de Pingus is a separate village wine from different vineyards, while PSI is a grower project whose stated goal is to support grape growers and preserve old vines.

Known for

Pingus and old vine Ribera

Notable facts

The story

Aunt Names Pingus

Peter Sisseck's aunt gave him the nickname Pingus to distinguish him from an uncle who was also named Peter. The nickname referred to her favorite cartoon characters, Peter and Ping. Her reason was practical, since the family had two people named Peter and needed a way to distinguish them. The childhood name became part of Dominio de Pingus and the name of its grand vin, Pingus. The producer name and the wine name both carry the nickname, while the cartoon reference remains part of its origin.

From the atlas

Dominio de Pingus

Peter Sisseck's Ribera del Duero estate, with Pingus as its grand vin, Flor de Pingus as a separate village wine, and PSI as a grower project.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
RegionRibera del Duero
BaseQuintanilla de Onésimo, Valladolid
Signature winePingus, the grand vin
Vineyard featureBush vines divided into five subplots reflecting sand and clay
Associated projectPSI, a grower project focused on supporting growers and preserving old vines

The Producer

Peter Sisseck produced the first Dominio de Pingus vintage in 1995 in a rented winery. The name Pingus came from his aunt, who used it to distinguish him from an uncle who was also named Peter, taking the name from her favorite cartoon characters, Peter and Ping.

The oak regime changed over time. Pingus was aged entirely in new oak through 2004. By 2012, no new oak was used, and the wine was aged in barrels that had already been used for 12 months.

Place

The original Pingus vineyard was planted in 1929 and described as two plots separated by 500 meters. It has since been divided into five subplots reflecting variations in sand and clay, and the vineyard has transitioned to biodynamic management.

Sand and clay behave differently in the soil. The vineyard's subdivision records those changes across the holding, keeping the ground itself visible in the way the vines are organized.

Wines

Pingus is produced in typically less than 500 cases each year, and no Pingus is made in poor vintages. Flor de Pingus was first produced commercially in 1996. It is the village wine alongside Pingus, made from different vineyards and described by Peter Sisseck as the other wine rather than a second wine.

Flor de Pingus draws on 30 hectares across four sites, with Tinto Fino and 5% Garnacha, and an annual production of 50,000 bottles. Amelia is a red wine from a La Horra plot planted in 1890 with only 500 vines.

PSI is the associated grower project. Its purpose built winery produces 350,000 bottles annually from 800 plots covering 200 hectares, mostly planted with old vines. The project's stated goal is to support grape growers and preserve old vines. Cement tanks and large ageing vats are favored, with little use of oak.

In The Glass

Pingus 2022 has a gentler, perfumed and fruit driven profile, with peach like fruit. On the palate it is youthful, tender, ripe and juicy, with spice, freshness and balance.

Pingus 2021 brings very fresh black fruit with balsamic, mineral, cassis and spice notes. The palate is intense and fresh, with natural acidity, refined sweet tannins, and a fluid, harmonious texture.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose Pingus 2022. It is made entirely from Tinto Fino, and its élevage remained exclusively in barrel. Unlike 2021, 2020 and 2018, it did not also spend time in 2,000 and 1,500 litre oak foudres. The bottle gives one vintage, one grape and one vessel choice in the same wine.

Final Word

Dominio de Pingus combines a grand vin, a separate village wine, and PSI, whose stated goal is to support grape growers and preserve old vines.

Sources

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