DO Madrid, Spain

Miguel Santiago

Miguel Santiago's family own a patchwork of old vine vineyards spread across a district called San Martín de Valdieglesias which is THE fine wine hotspot of the DO Madrid. Their patches of vineyard are often on steep, sandy soil — many must be tended with horses rather than machinery.

The Gredos wine region in DO Madrid has been in the spotlight in recent years, boasting some of Spain’s best old-vine Garnachas at elevations between 700-1,000 meters.

Miguel Santiago is a 5th generation viticultor and 3rd generation winemaker; it’s impossible to miss his smile as he steps into his vineyards. He prides himself on the family’s old-vine Garnachas and indigenous white variety Albillo Real. The parajes (small plots) are planted on granite and decomposed granite sand.