Las Moradas de San Martín Initio

In 2017 the San Martín de Iglesias winery was awarded organic certification; but the efforts started much further back, almost from the beginning, when they started their work in 1990. Respecting and caring for the Pago de los Castillejos (the natural environment where the 20 hectares of vineyards are located) has always been the main objective of this house, where no treatments or chemical products are used. This is how they came to make Las Moradas de San Martín Initio, the first organic red wine produced by this winery in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, in the D.O. Vinos de Madrid, between the north of Toledo and the south of Ávila.

Here, in this area, the Nozaleda family (who also own Enate) decided to start their business, which is one of the most prosperous and well-known in the denomination. The brown soils and continental climate of this area, which are unique, have allowed them to produce high quality wines with a lot of personality. Special care and attention is given to all their wines, but they go up a level with Las Moradas de San Martín Initio. To make this wine, the Grenache, a variety native to the area, grows in old vineyards (between 50 and 112 years old) lying at an altitude of 900 metres above sea level on granitic soils of sand and rock. These vines have been cultivated biodynamically, always seeking low yields but excellent quality.

The bunches are taken to the winery at night, in small boxes, after a manual harvest that guarantees the good condition of the berries. From here, Las Moradas de San Martín Initio goes directly to a selection table, where only the best quality clusters will go to the fermentation tank. After destemming, the vines are vatted separately and fermentation begins naturally with native yeasts. During this time, Las Moradas de San Martín Initio will hardly be touched, avoiding extractions and interventions at all times. The work of the yeasts is followed by malolactic fermentation and aging in 500-litre French oak barrels for 14 months. Finally, after a short rest in the bottle, without filtering or clarifying, Las Moradas de San Martín Initio becomes an elegant and very flavoursome red wine, without which Las Moradas de San Martín would not be able to function.