FLC #24: Rodrigo and Asier Calvo / Bodegas Arrocal

Bodegas Arrocal has been a key part of WineLab, since before the beginning! Starting in 2004, Ronan began importing wines from this winery and we have continued importing their wines ever since. Bodegas Arrocal is set in a small winemaking village, Gumiel de Mercado, in Ribera del Duero, Spain. When naming top wine regions in Spain, Ribera del Duero stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Rioja and Priorat. In Gumiel, winemaking is the heart and soul of much of the community, and none more so than Bodegas Arrocal. This is a family-run vineyard, with parents Rosa Arroyo and Moisés Calvo paving the way for their sons, Rodrigo and Asier Calvo Arroyo, to continue the tradition. 

The Tempranillo (known as ‘Tinto Fino’ locally) vineyards are located 800m above sea level and are farmed traditionally and sustainably, while modern equipment in the winery ensures that these carefully farmed grapes are cultivated into elegant wines, with everything happening by gravity or by hand. Rodrigo and Asier developed a side project in recent years called ‘Vinos de Gumiel’ where they are striving to make fresher, more delicate wines while still respecting the traditional qualities of Ribera del Duero. Recently, they have taken over operation of the entire winery. This means that the brothers are bringing their modern style to the traditional arm of Bodegas Arrocal.

This month’s First Look Club is Bodegas Arrocal ‘Roble’. It is a brand-new wine for WineLab (literally only arriving a few days ago!) and we are super excited to share it with our FLC members. It is 97% Tempranillo, with a tiny proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Aged in a mixture of 3-year-old French and American oak barrels for 8 months, this young wine showcases more complexity than might typically be expected of this style of wine.