Producer: Domaine Marenas

Perched on the heights of Cerro Encinas, in the heart of the province of Cordoba in Andalusia, the Marenas Viñedo y Bodega estate is the singular work of José Miguel Márquez. Here, in the geographical center of Andalusia, this visionary winemaker has been cultivating a radically natural approach to wine since the late 1990s. A true artisan of the vine, he hand-planted his 5 hectares of vines, charting a counter-current path in a region where tradition often coexists with intensive production. For more than twenty years, he has championed a free, intuitive, and respectful viticulture, where each cuvée tells a fragment of landscape and memory.

Terroir, plots, and grape varieties

The Marenas vineyards flourish on steep slopes (10 to 20%) bathed in light, enjoying 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. This Mediterranean climate, blended with humid and saline Atlantic influences, leaves its mark on quickly ripening grapes, making Montilla one of the first areas harvested in Spain. On these living soils, indigenous grape varieties find a natural setting: Montepilas, Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel for whites, Monastrell and Tempranillo for reds. Old, sometimes forgotten varieties, which reveal their full singularity here.

Cultivation methods

At Marenas, the vine grows freely, in symbiosis with its environment. No chemical treatments, either on the soil or on the vines. No external organic matter is added, in order to preserve the balance of the environment. The soil is not ploughed: the spontaneous flora is simply laid down then incorporated into the earth, as are the pruning woods. The harvest, carried out by hand and sometimes at night, respects the natural rhythm of the berries. A viticulture of observation and respect, where every gesture is weighed, born of a deep ethic rather than a set of specifications.

Winemaking

Since 1999, José Miguel Márquez has been making wine without sulfur or any additives. Fermentations occur naturally, without exogenous yeasts or invasive technical control. The objective: to let the grape express itself freely, in all its truth. The vinifications are an extension of the work in the vineyards, with minimal intervention and maximum listening. Each tank becomes a reflection of a year, a soil, a variety, in total freedom.

Tasting & pairings

Marenas wines are vibrant, lively, carried by a solar energy and a pure essence. They tell the story of Andalusian warmth, but also the unexpected freshness of nights on Cerro Encinas. Salty whites with floral accents, tender reds with melted tannins, each bottle offers a singular, off-the-beaten-path sensory experience. They pair wonderfully with Mediterranean cuisine, plant-based dishes, iodized tapas, or grilled meat. But above all, these are wines to share, to discover slowly, allowing the nature they contain to speak for itself.