Nekeas

Back in 1989, eight families from the village of Añorbe decided to do something radical. They pooled their land, planted 150 hectares of vines, and founded Nekeas in the Valdizarbe valley of Navarra. This wasn't just about starting a winery. It was about bringing life back to a valley where viticulture had nearly disappeared. The families had seen grape prices crash and vineyards abandoned in favor of cereals. But they believed in their land.

The Valdizarbe valley sits in the northernmost part of Navarra, tucked between the Pyrenees and protected by the Sierra del Perdón. It's a place where Atlantic winds meet Mediterranean warmth, creating a unique climate for growing grapes. Documents from the 15th century prove that winemaking here goes way back. The soil is chalky, the landscape dotted with olive groves and ancient vines. Around 40 plots of old goblet-trained Garnacha survived the rural exodus of the 1960s. These gnarled vines would later become the heart of the estate's most celebrated wine.

Francisco San Martín, who had worked on the creation of Príncipe de Viana, led the charge. He brought together the eight founding families: Lizarraga, Urricelqui, Sola, Lacunza, San Martín, Huarte, Erviti, and Echarte. In just two years they planted their vineyards and released their first vintage in 1993. Today the estate has grown to 250 hectares of vines and over 200 hectares of olive trees. They produce around one million bottles a year and export 70% of their wines, mainly to North America.

Concha Vecino joined as winemaker in 1993 and has been crafting the wines ever since. She was one of Spain's first female winemakers, breaking into an industry that didn't always welcome women. Her approach is hands-on and thoughtful. She lives right in the valley, works with indigenous varieties like Garnacha and Tempranillo, but isn't afraid to experiment with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, grapes that have historical ties to the region thanks to the Way of St. James pilgrimage route. Concha believes Cabernet is as well adapted here as Garnacha. She's also exploring Garnacha Blanca and even considering Oneca, an ancestral white variety recently authorized in the DO.

The wine range is diverse and approachable. El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa is the flagship, made from 70 to 110 year old Garnacha vines with a unique genetic lineage specific to the Nekeas valley. It's an Atlantic expression of Garnacha, fresh and distinct from warmer climate versions. Cepa x Cepa offers an excellent introduction to Valdizarbe Garnacha at great value. The whites include a young Viura-Chardonnay blend, the oak-fermented Chardonnay Cuvée Allier, and the vibrant 25 Vendimias Garnacha Blanca. On the red side, you'll find blends like El Camino de Nekeas with Garnacha, Syrah and Tempranillo, and Los Olivos de Nekeas, a Bordeaux-style blend aged 15 to 18 months in oak. The Vega Sindoa label was created specifically for the North American market, where the name Nekeas was sometimes mistaken for Greek.