SPAIN

Viña Serranas is a new project located in Sierra de Francia – at the southern edge of the Salamnaca Province, Sierra de Francia fell in decline over the course of the 20th century, but paradoxically thanks to that the old vine plots escaped uprooting and the area preserved it’s rugged and unspoiled character – only waiting to be rediscovered in recent years.

The winemaker behind Viña Serranas - César Ruiz was working in this area for quite some time, before teaming up with three of his friends and starting the new winery. Their focus is on old vines of Rufete, grown on mix of granitic and slate soil, at altitude between 400 – 1000m above the sea level.

Despite its most likely Portuguese origin, Rufete is a variety which is well adapted and cultivated in Sierra de Francia for centuries.
It produces elegant, ethereal reds with marked freshness, bright accidity and floral character. The staple wine of Viña Serrana is  called Ciclón – a blend of several parcels, including a centenary plot of Rufete in Miranda del Castañar; lively and juicy red made in traditional way (20% full bunch fermentation and ageing for 10 months in used oak barrels).

BODEGAS CINCO LEGUAS, MARC ISART,  DO VINOS DE MADRID

This new project, La Maldición (‘The Curse’) is based in South- East Madrid, in the Arganda del Rey sub-zone, it involves mostly Tempranillo for the red wine and Malvar for the whites. The soil is sedimentary calcareous and gypsiferous in some parts, with a clayey texture. The climate is continental, with extreme summer and winter temperatures. The old Tempranillo vines are grown in Valdelicha at an altitude of 780 metres above sea level whereas Malvar and Airen come from Belmonte at 733 metres. Both areas are rugged due to their abundant cliffs and canyons, and high concentration of chalky rock in the vineyards. The fundamental idea is to encapsulate in the wines the landscape and the people who live and work in this land. The intention is to make easy-to- drink wines to enjoy with meals and which encourage people to appreciate the pleasures of food and wine.

COMANDO G , FERNANDO GARCÍA & DANIEL LANDI, DO  VINOS DE MADRID. SIERRA DE GREDOS

This is a personal project of two friends: Daniel Gómez (Bodegas Jiménez – Landi), Fernando García (Bodega Marañones) with the sole purpose of making the best Garnacha and trying to capture the terroir in every wine. There are 3 hectares of vineyards which are tended using organic and biodynamic principles. The vines are between 50 and 80 years old.

An important characteristic of their vineyards is the altitude. They operate the highest vineyards in the DO Vinos de Madrid, which are between 900 and 1000 metres high. They search for balance and optimal maturity, trying to make wines with freshness and elegance.

After making his name with Bodegas Jiménez Landi, Dani has set out on his own taking with him a couple of the very best old vine Garnacha plots in Spain and making a new wine, Las Uvas de la Ira (the Grapes of Wrath), which is his new “village” wine. A combination of whole bunch, large old oak barrels, and minimal extraction from pressing produce a beautiful and elegant wine. The wine from the vineyard “The End” is now called Cantos del Diablo, a tiny parcel of mountain Garnacha producing a wine of incredible purity. El Reventón, Dani’s most acclaimed and sought after wine, is considered as one of the world’s best Garnachas. Las Uvas de la Ira Blanco is a tiny production Albillo, barrel- fermented richly textured and delicious.