Old-vine Garnacha · Mountain landscapes · Reservoir lunch
Granite & Water
San Martín de Valdeiglesias · San Martín Subzone
Old-vine Garnacha · Mountain landscapes · Reservoir lunch
Granite, Garnacha & Mountain Water
This self-drive route through the San Martín subzone combines mountain landscapes, old-vine Garnacha, and the relaxed rhythm of western Madrid wine country. Leaving the city behind, the drive gradually climbs into the granite hills and pine forests of the Sierra de Gredos foothills, where high-altitude vineyards shape some of Spain’s most elegant Garnacha wines.
Visits at Las Moradas de San Martín and Bernabeleva offer two distinct interpretations of the region’s decomposed granite soils, old vines, and mountain freshness, with tastings focused on parcel expression and local varieties such as Albillo Real. The day ends beside the waters of Pantano de San Juan, where a long lunch overlooking the reservoir provides a slower, more relaxed finish before returning to Madrid.
Sample Itinerary
Madrid → Mountain vineyards of San Martín de Valdeiglesias → Tastings at Las Moradas de San Martín & Bernabeleva → Relaxed lunch overlooking Pantano de San Juan → Return to Madrid
09:30
Leave Madrid
Drive west toward the Sierra de Gredos foothills. Landscape shifts from plains to granite hills and pine forests.
11:00–12:15
Winery visit & tasting - Las Moradas de San Martín
- Focus on high-altitude Garnacha grown on decomposed granite
- Calm, landscape-driven visit with vineyard context
Tasting example
- Senda
- Initio
- Optional single-parcel wine (La Maliciosa, subject to availability)
- Approx. €25–30 per person
- 75 minutes
- Advance booking recommended
12:20
Short drive through San Martín vineyards (5–10 min)
12:45–14:00
Bernabeleva Vineyard-focused visit & tasting
- Old-vine Garnacha and Albillo Real
- Emphasis on parcel expression, altitude, and granite soils
Tasting example
- Navaherreros
- Camino de Navaherreros
- Navaherreros Blanco (Albillo Real)
- Approx. €25–30 per person
- 75 minutes
- Advance booking recommended
14:15
Drive to the Pantano de San Juan (15–20 min)
14:30
Lunch by the Water - Restaurante El Muro
Set directly above the reservoir, with open views over the water.
Specialty & style
- Grilled meats (especially entrecôte and chuletón)
- Fresh fish and rice dishes
- Traditional Madrid mountain cuisine
Sample menu
- Starter: grilled vegetables or seasonal salad
- Main: entrecôte a la brasa or grilled fish
- Dessert: homemade flan or cheesecake
- Wine: local D.O. Vinos de Madrid options available
- Approx. €35–45 per person
- Long, relaxed lunch recommended
16:30–17:45
Return to Madrid
Drive back as the light softens over the reservoir and hills.
PLACES TO VISIT
Granite & Garnacha is a landscape-driven journey through the wild western edge of Madrid Wine Country, where mountain vineyards, granite soils, and reservoir landscapes shape some of the region’s most distinctive wines.
The day moves gradually from the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos into high-altitude vineyards surrounded by pine forests and exposed stone, with visits to two of the area’s most respected wineries. Along the way, you will explore old-vine Garnacha and Albillo Real, discovering how altitude, decomposed granite, and careful vineyard work create wines of elegance, freshness, and remarkable mineral character.
