Pago de Los Balagueses is one of Spain's estate-specific Vinos de Pago. It is in the Valencia province and was, in 2011, the first vineyard in the region to receive VP status. (It was followed a year later by Chozas Carrascal.) Pago de Los Balagueses was formerly classified under the regional appellation of Utiel-Requena. The pago (estate) is owned and operated by Vegalfaro Viñedos y Bodegas, a family company, which also makes other wines outside of the VP that are classified under the Utiel-Requena DO.
Winemaking in the region can be traced back to at least the 7th Century, as shown by archaeological relics found on properties in the area. The family who own the estate previously cultivated olives, almonds, cereals and some vines. But in 1980, following talk that the terroir was well suited to the growing of high-quality grapes, the family dedicated themselves to the production of wine.
The estate has a mostly Mediterranean climate as it is located just 43 miles (70km) west of Valencia and the sea. There are also some continental influences on the vineyard, though, thanks to the altitude at which it sits. This brings greater temperature variations seasonally and, importantly, diurnally, creating a long ripening season, a condition ideal for quality grape production. The soils of the pago are made up mostly of chalky clay. Alluvial and gravel soils can be found in the broader estate.
The pago grows two red-wine varieties, Syrah and Merlot, which it makes into single-variety wines. In the broader estate there are plantings of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Bobal, Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) as well as the white-wine varieties Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The pago's two varietal wines are both aged for 12 months on new French oak. They are smooth and rich and expressive of their terroir.
