Garnacha/Grenache Red Wine Spain under £20 Wine
Wine bottle labeled 'El Chaparral' on a white background

El Chaparral de Vega Sindo Garnacha

£16.00
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Wine bottle labeled 'El Chaparral' on a white background
  • Wine bottle labeled 'El Chaparral' on a white background
  • Wine bottle labeled 'El Chaparral' on a white background
El Chaparral de Vega Sindo Garnacha

El Chaparral de Vega Sindo Garnacha

Wine at a glance:

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Red
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Navarra
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Garnacha/ Grenache
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Full Bodied
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15.0
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Slight oak flavour

The old garnacha vines that created this wine has survived industrial revolutions and century-long droughts, so it can certainly handle your dinner party.

£16.00
Who makes it?

The Nekeas Valley isn’t just a location; it’s a masterclass in stubbornness. Back in the 16th century, winemaking here was booming, but by the mid-20th century, industrialization almost wiped the valley floor clean of its vines. While other growers packed it up for city jobs in Pamplona, the descendants of the original viticultural families refused to let the dream die. They rallied in the 1990s to reclaim the impossibly steep, high-altitude slopes that range from 450 to 650 meters. Today, these dedicated winemakers navigate a chaotic landscape of red, white, and grey-brown clays to produce wines that possess more character than a Spanish soap opera.
How is it made?

To create the Nekeas El Chaparral, the team sources 100% Garnacha from a few "survivor" plots that escaped the grape crisis of the 1960s. These vines are absolute legends, ranging from 80 to 115 years old, perched in the northernmost Garnacha-growing region of Spain. The winemaking process is as meticulous as a diamond heist: each plot undergoes separate fermentation with an average 20-day maceration (including a chilly eight-day cold soak to lock in those delicate aromatics). After a round of malolactic fermentation, the wine enjoys a five to six-month nap in light oak barrels. If the harvest isn’t up to their sky-high standards—like the heartbreak of 2004—they won't release a single drop. It’s excellence or nothing.
What does it taste like?

On the palate, El Chaparral is the antithesis of those jammy, heavy reds that hit you like a freight train. Because it hails from such a cool, high-elevation microclimate, this Garnacha is celebrated for its delicacy, elegance, and refinement. Expect a vibrant profile of fresh red berries and floral whispers, underscored by the unique mineral "terroir" of the Nekeas Valley. It’s light on its feet but deeply complex—basically the prima ballerina of Spanish red wines. If you’re looking for a bottle that tastes like history, hard work, and a crisp valley breeze, you’ve found it.

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