Spain · Jumilla

El Nido

El Nido is a joint venture established in 1999 between Jorge Ordóñez, the influential Spanish wine importer, and Australian winemaker Chris Ringland, located in the Jumilla DO of southeastern Spain. The project focuses on old-vine Monastrell (Mourvèdre) — some planted in the 1940s and 1950s — grown on Jumilla's high-altitude limestone soils at approximately 700 meters elevation. Two wines are produced: El Nido, the flagship blend of Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon, and Clio, a more accessible second wine with a higher Cabernet Sauvignon component. Robert Parker proved critical to the project's early success, awarding scores of 97–99 points to early El Nido vintages in the mid-2000s, which drove immediate international demand and auction interest. At auction, the producer averages $76 per bottle across 168 lots, with El Nido commanding significantly higher prices than Clio — the price range of $18 to well above $100 reflects this split. The 2002 and 2003 El Nido vintages, receiving near-perfect Parker scores, remain the benchmarks that defined the estate's auction value trajectory. Clio is the volume driver but trades near or below retail; the flagship El Nido is where auction premiums emerge. Chris Ringland's involvement and the Ordóñez distribution network provided immediate market credibility. The combination of Parker scores, exotic Spanish terroir, and old-vine Monastrell continues to attract collector interest, particularly from American buyers who discovered the wines through Ordóñez's import portfolio.