Sisseck refutes Putin Pingus vineyard claims

Winemaker Peter Sisseck has denied bizarre claims that he sold Dominio de Pingus vines to Russian president Vladimir Putin so the leader could plant them in the grounds of his Spanish mansion.

Peter Sisseck, winemaker and founder of Pingus

According to the Olive Press, an English newspaper based in Spain, the Russian leader had planted a vineyard at his multi million euro mansion in Marbella having bought 25 vines from Peter Sisseck’s cult Spanish bodega Pingus – 500 miles away.

The English speaking newspaper reported that sources had confirmed that Putin was preparing to produce a wine and had commissioned Peter Sisseck himself to oversee its production.

However the claims have since been proven to be false. Speaking to the drinks business, Peter Sisseck dismissed the far-fetched claims as “really weird”, adding that it was the first he had heard of the arrangement.

“If this had been the 1 April I would have said that it was funny, but it is not. It’s the first I have heard of it,” said Sisseck.

“Anyone who has any idea about wine will know that it’s not just a matter of taking an old vine, digging it up and taking it somewhere else and it will produce a good wine. You need to preserve the root and it also has to be planted in a fantastic place. This is supposedly in a completely different area. I have never been in contact with Mr Putin or any of his entourage and I have certainly not sold any vines to southern Spain.”

Dominio de Pingus was established in 1995 by Sisseck. Just 500 cases of wine are produced each year which have attained cult status and fetch €1,000 a bottle.

Putin’s 10-bedroom mansion in the exclusive La Zagaleta estate in the Malaga province of Benahavis meanwhile might not boast a Pingus-grown vineyard, but does feature two underground cellars, a private helipad, spa and gym, a cinema, piano bar, two swimming pools and a 22-car garage.