Bernabeleva

San Martín de Valdeiglesias · San Martín Subzone · D.O. Vinos de Madrid

“Our approach from the beginning has been to let each vineyard express itself, without forcing weight or style.”

- Winemaking philosophy at Bernabeleva

Place & Landscape

Bernabeleva is located in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, in the westernmost part of the D.O. Vinos de Madrid, at the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos. This is a rugged, high-altitude landscape dominated by granite, pine forests, and steep slopes, forming one of the most distinctive wine environments in central Spain.Vineyards lie at approximately 600 to 830 meters above sea level. Soils are primarily decomposed granite, extremely low in fertility and fast-draining.

Combined with altitude and strong day–night temperature variation, these conditions naturally limit yields and preserve acidity. The winery is embedded in this rural setting rather than separated from it, maintaining a deliberately understated presence that allows vineyards and landscape to define the experience.

Origins & Ownership

Bernabeleva was founded by Santiago Mota and José (J.) del Moral with the objective of recovering historic old-vine Garnacha vineyards in San Martín de Valdeiglesias and demonstrating their qualitative potential. From the outset, the project focused on vineyard recovery, parcel identification, and minimal intervention.

At a time when Madrid wines were largely associated with volume and tradition, Bernabeleva positioned itself within a terroir-driven, site-specific approach. Santiago Mota remains the principal winemaking reference of the estate, guiding both viticulture and cellar decisions.

Vineyards, Land & Grapes

Bernabeleva works with numerous small vineyard parcels, many planted 40 to more than 80 years ago. Most vines are bush-trained (vaso), dry-farmed, and rooted directly into granite bedrock. Each parcel is vinified separately to preserve its individual character.

Key vineyard characteristics include:

Decomposed granite soils with very low fertility

Altitudes from approximately 600 to 830 meters

Old bush vines with naturally low yields

Continental climate with mountain influence

Strong day–night temperature variation

Garnacha

Albillo Real

Winemaking Philosophy

Bernabeleva’s winemaking philosophy is grounded in restraint, precision, and respect for vineyard expression. Fermentations are handled with care, extraction is gentle, and maceration times are adapted parcel by parcel. Aging takes place mainly in neutral French oak barrels and larger formats, selected to frame the wine without dominating it.

Alcohol levels are moderate, oak influence is discreet, and freshness is prioritized. The objective is transparency, allowing soil, altitude, and vine age to remain legible in the glass.

Wines

The winery produces a focused range of wines that reflect both Chinchón’s history and contemporary restraint.

Village & Estate Expressions

Navaherreros

Garnacha-led wine combining multiple parcels; pure, fresh, and mineral

Camino de Navaherreros

More structured and site-driven, from selected vineyards

Navaherreros Blanco

Albillo Real with texture, tension, and aging potential

Single-Vineyard Wines

Carril del Rey

old-vine Garnacha shaped by granite soils and altitude

El Reventón

High-altitude Garnacha noted for finesse and aromatic precision

Visiting the Winery

Bernabeleva offers a vineyard-focused enotourism experience. Visits emphasize landscape, old vines, and parcel expression rather than architecture or spectacle. Tastings are calm, educational, and by appointment, often including vineyard walks.

Nearby places

Las Moradas de San Martin

Where granite, altitude, and old vines define one of Madrid’s most austere and mineral expressions.

Tierra Calma

Where vineyard, cellar, and enotourism merge into an immersive experience rooted in place and ecological viticulture.

San Martín de Valdeiglesias

San Martín de Valdeiglesias feels like a threshold between worlds, where Madrid’s interior gives way to something wilder, more elemental, and unexpectedly expansive.

Why It Matters

Bernabeleva played a decisive role in changing how Madrid wines are perceived. It demonstrated that San Martín de Valdeiglesias could produce refined, terroir-driven wines of international relevance based on old vines, granite soils, and restrained winemaking. Today, it stands as one of the key reference points of modern Madrid Wine Country - precise, transparent, and deeply anchored in place.