Sierra de Gredos

Sierra de Gredos is a historic mountain wine region located west of Madrid, with a viticultural history that stretches back centuries. References to vineyards in the area date as far back as the 13th century, while by the 16th century, wines from Cebreros were already widely appreciated in both Madrid and Ávila.  Stretching across the provinces of Madrid and Ávila and reaching into Toledo, Gredos is not a denomination of origin in its own right. Instead, its vineyards fall mainly under two appellations: DOP Cebreros, in Ávila, and DO Vinos de Madrid, particularly around San Martín de Valdeiglesias.

Today, the region is defined by its old vineyards, particularly Garnacha, planted mostly as traditional bush vines on the granite and slate slopes of the mountains. Many of these parcels are between 60 and 100 years old, with some much older, and are found at elevations ranging from around 600 to more than 1,000 metres. The combination of altitude, poor granitic soils, steep slopes and a Mediterranean mountain climate naturally produces low yields and grapes with remarkable freshness and concentration. 

For much of the 20th century, these vineyards were largely overlooked, with grapes often destined for local consumption or cooperative production. In recent decades, however, a new generation of growers and winemakers has rediscovered the potential of these old vines, putting Sierra de Gredos on the map for elegant, fresh and mineral-driven Garnacha, as well as distinctive Albillo Real.