Bodega El Reventón, La Reina, 2022
Bodega El Reventón, La Reina, 2022
- Red Still
- 75.0cl
- 13.0%
- Garnacha
Bodega El Reventón is a small, passionate project working with old Garnacha and Tempranillo vines in the rugged, windswept landscape of the Sierra de Gredos, west of Madrid. La Reina is their red blend — a wine that wears its origins openly, with that distinctive combination of bright red fruit and stony, almost smoky earthiness that Gredos has made its calling card over the last decade. The name means "The Queen", and there is something regal but unshowy about it: confident without being heavy.
The 2022 vintage brought warmth and concentration to Gredos without stripping it of freshness, and La Reina sits right in that sweet spot — generous on the palate but kept honest by the altitude and granite soils.
- ❖ ABV: 13.0%
Grapes
Garnacha
Vintage report
The 2022 growing season in Sierra de Gredos delivered one of those vintages that reminds you why altitude matters so much in central Spain. While much of the country baked under relentless summer heat, these granite slopes above 800 metres provided the natural air conditioning that kept acidity levels intact and prevented the jammy overripeness that plagued lower elevations. The key was timing—harvest came early but not frantically so, allowing growers to pick when flavours had developed fully but before the wines lost their mountain freshness.
What emerged from the cellars shows Gredos at its most expressive: Garnacha with real bite and energy rather than the soft, round style from hotter years, and reds that marry concentration with lift in that particularly Spanish way. The granitic soils seem to have left their fingerprints all over these wines—there's a mineral backbone that runs through everything, from the peachy whites to the cherry-bright reds. Most 2022s are drinking beautifully now, though the best reds will happily develop until 2030 and beyond.
Tasting Notes
AppearanceClear, medium ruby with a lively, translucent rim.
NoseRaspberry and wild strawberry with a distinctive stony, almost smoky mineral undercurrent. A subtle dried herb quality — thyme, perhaps a touch of rosemary — lifts the whole thing without pushing it into aromatic territory.
PalateMedium-bodied with a bright, cherry-driven core and that granite-inflected mineral grip that defines Gredos at its best. The tannins are present but fine-grained, and the acidity is the glue that holds it all together with real precision.
FinishClean and persistent, with a pleasingly dry, earthy close that lingers longer than you expect.
Overall impressionA mountain wine in the best sense: light on its feet, serious beneath the surface.
Food Pairings
In Gredos and the broader Castilian highlands, this style of wine is made for roasted or grilled lamb — particularly the wood-roasted suckling lamb that is a fixture of the region's village restaurants. Locally cured charcuterie, especially chorizo and morcilla from Ávila or Salamanca, would be a natural partner. A simple roast chicken rubbed with garlic and herbs would be perfect too, letting the wine's red fruit and mineral edge do the heavy lifting. If you're eating in, a plate of manchego with a drizzle of honey alongside a glass of La Reina before dinner is not a bad way to start an evening.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve at around 15-16°C — slightly cooler than a big Rioja, which helps the freshness and mineral character sing. A brief decant of 20-30 minutes will open it up nicely, though it is approachable without. A standard Burgundy-style glass works well here, giving the aromatic lift enough room to develop without overwhelming what is ultimately a wine about precision rather than power.
The Sierra de Gredos sits at altitude, with vineyards typically ranging from 700 to over 1,000 metres above sea level. The soils are predominantly granite-based, which gives wines from here their characteristic mineral edge and keeps alcohol in check despite the warm, dry summers. Cold nights preserve acidity and lift, and the mountain winds help maintain freshness that lower-altitude sites in central Spain simply cannot match.
Gredos does not have a single overarching DO, and many producers here, including El Reventón, label their wines under Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León or similar classifications, giving them freedom to work outside the constraints of more bureaucratic denominaciones. This relative regulatory freedom has been a feature of the region's rise: winemakers have been able to focus on old-vine Garnacha without being told what a wine from here should look like. It sits geographically between Ribera del Duero to the north and La Mancha to the south, but stylistically it is closer to neither — Gredos has carved out its own identity entirely.
The 2022 growing season in Sierra de Gredos delivered one of those vintages that reminds you why altitude matters so much in central Spain. While much of the country baked under relentless summer heat, these granite slopes above 800 metres provided the natural air conditioning that kept acidity levels intact and prevented the jammy overripeness that plagued lower elevations. The key was timing—harvest came early but not frantically so, allowing growers to pick when flavours had developed fully but before the wines lost their mountain freshness.
What emerged from the cellars shows Gredos at its most expressive: Garnacha with real bite and energy rather than the soft, round style from hotter years, and reds that marry concentration with lift in that particularly Spanish way. The granitic soils seem to have left their fingerprints all over these wines—there's a mineral backbone that runs through everything, from the peachy whites to the cherry-bright reds. Most 2022s are drinking beautifully now, though the best reds will happily develop until 2030 and beyond.
FAQs
What does La Reina taste like?
Think bright red fruit — raspberry, wild cherry — underpinned by a stony, mineral quality that comes directly from the granite soils of the Sierra de Gredos. It is medium-bodied, fresh, and precise rather than rich or heavy, with a dry, earthy finish.
When should I drink this wine?
It is drinking well now and will continue to do so until around 2030. There is no great reason to cellar it beyond that — the freshness and fruit are the point, and those are what will fade first.
What food should I serve with La Reina?
Roasted or grilled lamb is the obvious regional match, but it is also excellent alongside charcuterie, a simple roast chicken, or aged sheep's cheese. Avoid anything too rich or heavily sauced — this wine is at its best with honest, unfussy cooking.
How should I serve it?
Serve at around 15-16°C, slightly cooler than you might a bigger Spanish red. A short decant of 20-30 minutes is worthwhile but not essential. A standard Burgundy bowl works well as a glass.
Is Gredos a well-known wine region?
It is well-known among enthusiasts and has been one of Spain's most talked-about regions for old-vine Garnacha over the last decade, but it remains relatively under the radar compared to Rioja or Ribera del Duero. That is part of what makes it interesting — and good value.
Is this wine suitable for a wine drinker who usually prefers lighter styles?
Yes, absolutely. Gredos Garnacha at this level is closer in spirit to a well-made Burgundy or Northern Rhône than to a big, extracted Spanish red. If you like wines that prioritise freshness and precision over weight, La Reina is very much in your corner.
Want to know more?
Discuss your requirements with our account managers, Jeremy & Jen
-
Personal Service
- Our team are always on hand to support you, taking orders online, by phone or email & responding to urgent requests.
- Our efficient warehouse & team of drivers always go the extra mile to deliver our wines to you.
- Our new, high-capacity warehouse ensures excellent availability of wines.
- Our new enterprise platform means hassle-free service, from inventory to billing.
-
Our Sales Team
Speak to one of our teamJeremy Cowan
After managing his own stores and a further stint in independent retail, Jeremy has dedicated 12 years to trade sales in the North West.
Jen Neilan
Twenty years in hospitality later, after curating the wine list for Manchester’s first Neapolitan pizza restaurant, and running a natural wine bar, Jen made the move to the other side of the table.