Knowing the denomination of origin Méntrida.
Historically, the region that today protects the wines of the Denomination of Origin Méntrida was conceived during the Middle Ages to certain jurisdictional lordships that were in charge of the governments and of carrying out a rapid repopulation. Proof of this are the references to vineyards dating back to the 12th century.
Wine cultivation prospered until it reached its splendour in the Madrid of the Austrias, where these wines were highly appreciated. The Denomination of Origin as we know it today was born in 1976. Since then the Denomination of Origin has gone through several stages and today faces new markets and new challenges.
The vineyards of the Méntrida Denomination of Origin are located to the north of the province of Toledo, bordering the provinces of Ávila and Madrid, and extend to the foot of the impressive Sierra de Gredos in its eastern part. This area is crossed by the lower course of the river Alberche and is home to towns linked to wine and history such as Almorox, Escalona, Maqueda, Fuensalida, Camarena, Casarrubios del Monte and Méntrida itself.
Regarding the terroir, located between the Tagus river on its right bank and the Sierra de Gredos. The climate of Méntrida is extreme continental with long, cold winters, somewhat tempered by being protected from the cold winds from the north and west by the mountain barrier of Gredos.
Summers are hot and rainfall is very scarce, barely exceeding 300 mm. These climatic conditions are ideal for growing vines and favour the application of the most natural, ecological and biodynamic techniques in winemaking.
The gently undulating terrain is formed by sandy soils of granitic origin, acidic and with very little lime, which increases the fineness of the wines produced there.
The vast majority of the vines belong to the red variety GARNACHA. They are very old vines of low production, pruned in
In recent years other grape varieties have been introduced (tempranillo, merlot, syrah, cabernet…) to complement the autochthonous qualities of our queen variety.
In this sense, the resurgence of new wineries and the work of the more traditional ones is placing this Denomination in the best positions in national and international markets. Proof of this can be seen in the awards and recognition of some of the wines produced there by the press and the more specialised distribution that has placed the Designation in a privileged position with a great future.
The wineries and the project of Jiménez Landi.
Bodegas Jiménez – Landi is a family project that arises from a passion for the countryside and the vineyard. Located in MENTRIDA, a village with a great winemaking tradition (some references to vineyards in the area date back to the 12th century) located to the west of MADRID (53 kilometres away), to the north of Toledo, and in the foothills of the SIERRA DE GREDOS (Tiétar Valley and Alberche Valley).
The winery is located in an old manor house, the oldest part of which dates back to the end of the 16th century. Our ancestors already made wine in the old jars of the cave where we now have our cemetery of bottles. The current winery was founded in the middle of the 20th century (1963).
In 2004 a new stage began as a result of the illusion of making red wines from the family’s vineyards. Currently JOSÉ BENAVIDES JIMÉNEZ – LANDI runs the winery with the aim of producing great wines based on respect for the environment, tradition and balance with the environment. Wines in limited productions that represent the typical soils and varieties with which we work and the nature that surrounds them.
The project is focused on working with GARNACHA as the native variety of the area without forgetting other varieties that are demonstrating their good adaptation.
Garnachas de Gredos.
In the magazine Vignerons de BODEBOCA we find an interesting article about Garnachas de Gredos: “Gredos has been claiming its uniqueness for a long time. This area, which divides its vineyards into three provinces and as many denominations of origin, Toledo (D.O Méntrida), Madrid (D.O Vinos de Madrid and Ávila (Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla y León) has a differential value in its granite soils and microclimates.
“And the fact is that the vineyards have little understanding of political frontiers and nothing of autonomous communities. And wines should not be judged by it either, but by the landscape that creates them” – affirms Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi, from Comando G.
In recent years, numerous oenological projects with very similar values: recovery of old vineyards, ecological philosophy and commitment to traditional varieties (mainly Garnacha and Albillo real), have transformed the wine scene in this area, previously taken over by cooperatives and bulk wines.
In 2013, an Association called GARNACHAS DE GREDOS was created with the aim of defending the potential of this grape in the surroundings of the Sierra de Gredos, as well as the typical nature of the different soils, altitudes and microclimates of this area. An association that aspires to be the embryo of a future denomination of origin.
