In 1990, 8 families came together to unite their precious vineyards throughout the stunning Valdizarbe (valley of the stars), fiercely backing their wine-making roots in one of Spain’s finest, coolest viticultural corners. The brilliant Concha Vecino was entrusted with this project from the beginning and still carries out her work to this day, crafting a beautiful range of elegant wines that deliver immense quality for the minimal price tag (perhaps the greatest in all of Spain). The Chardonnay project blows their peers out of the water and of particular note is the valley’s unique Garnacha genetic material, which Nekeas have massal selected and grafted onto young vines to preserve its lineage. This unique red Garnacha has loose bunches of small, concentrated fruit that is perfectly suited to this cooler climate (growing up to 550 metres above sea level). ‘Cepa por Cepa’ is the young wine grown from cuttings of ‘El Chaparral’, vines over 120+ years old. These two are Spain’s most Atlantic Garnachas.

Their land is devoid of other industry (to the point that no roads criss cross the valley) with just a canal, sheep, olive groves, gnarly vines and woods making up the landscape. Climatic influences include the trifecta of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the looming Pyrenees, with cool winds keeping heat down and disease at bay. Hats off to Nekeas, theirs is a brilliant and understated project. Don’t miss their Extra Virgin Olive Oils either!