Viticola Mentridana 2022 'El Mentridano', Spanish Garnacha

The Wine

A high-altitude Garnacha that emphasizes subtlety, a study in restraint and radiance. Sourced from 40-year-old bush vines rooted in granitic soils at 600 meters in Méntrida, this wine is lightly hued yet deeply expressive.

Aromas of wild strawberry, dark cherry, and crushed thyme, with a floral hints of lavender and rose petals. On the palate, the wine reflects the berry-and-stem notes of its whole-cluster fermentation and its 8-day maceration. Ripe red fruit is built onto its mineral spine, with delicate tannins and a savory herbal finish. 

Aged 7 months in large-format French oak foudres (30 & 37HL), the wine is unfiltered/unfined (vegan) and biodynamically farmed, ticking most of the boxes for a "Natural" wine. This is a wine that invites contemplation but doesn’t demand it from those who simply want to pour and enjoy!

The Winery

Curro Bareño, co-founder of Fedellos and now the soul behind Vitícola Mentridana, brings his signature touch to this project - an ethereal, site-driven wine that speaks softly but carries a big sense of place.

The wine is from a region called Méntrida, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain—where the Alberche River bends and the soils shimmer with granite and sand. The winery is practicing biodynamic agriculture, with minimal intervention and a reverence for old vines despite their lower productivity. Curro’s approach is intuitive and transparent, letting the vineyard do the talking. 

Vitícola Mentridana is not just a label—it’s a love letter to the land, the vines, and the quiet power of thoughtful winemaking.