Comando G Wine

Created from 75-year-old vines on the high-altitude mountains of the Sierra de Gredos, Comando G is one of Spain's youngest and most exciting Grenache producers, commanding attention from wine critics, enthusiasts, and everyone in between. Nearly 20 years ago, Fernando Garcia and Daniel Gomez Landi started as university pals in Madrid, plotting to secure land 1,000 meters above sea level in what was thought of as barren, rugged land. Eager to prove the world wrong, the pair launched Comando G into one of Spain's biggest success stories and transformed the perception of Grenache around the world.

Comando G Winery: University Beginnings

While studying viticulture at the University of Madrid, a chance encounter brought Fernando Garcia and Daniel Gomez Landi together. The pair hit it off instantly, quickly discovering they enjoyed the same wines and shared similar outlooks on winemaking, the current fine wine scene, and future business plans. After graduating, both Garcia and Landi worked near each other- Garcia at his family vineyard, Bodegas Jimenez-Landi, and Fernando at Bodega Marañones. Familiar with the Sierra de Gredos, the pair saw an unmined treasure trove in the rugged, high-altitude mountains. While most saw the area as too risky to tame or containing no worth to winemaking, Landi and Garci hiked the 1,000-meter mountains into previously unkept vineyards. 

Once the duo had purchased and rented enough plots of land on the mountains, they officially decided to create Comando G, a Grenache-based winery in 2008. Named after a beloved Spanish cartoon from their childhood, the pair ensured the letter 'G' was in the title to emphasize key details in the journey: Grenache, Granite, and Gredos. 

High-Altitude Terroir

Situated in central Spain, a short distance away from Madrid, Comando G's vineyards contain a prime terroir ready-made for Grenache. The region's humid climate and warm temperatures create the perfect conditions in October when harvesting begins. Granite, slate, and quartz cover sandy soils where 60-90-year-old Grenache vines grow, many of which are undrafted as the pair commit to as little human intervention as possible. The soil drains freely, guaranteeing a long harvest season and modest alcohol levels in the finished product. While not an easy terroir to create world-class wines, Garcia and Landi daringly chose plots they could refine and purify.

Spanish "Burgundian" Winemaking

Comando G's various vineyards are difficult to access and, in some cases, nearly inaccessible, due to the region's steep slopes and high altitude, making livestock necessary for transportation. Horses are primarily used to travel up and down the mountains and carry grapes to the winery. The grapes remain unstemmed when fermented by indigenous yeasts and French oak casks, and many Burundy-styled vinification processes are adopted at the winery. Ultimately, the pair wanted to keep each step of the winemaking process traditional to fully express the terroir in the final bottling. According to Garcia and Landi, "We want to know how far we can go with the variety and the terroir." Opting to go against the grain of Spanish wine's reputation for "polished" wines, Comando G opts to embrace the rugged through small refinements. 

Comando G Wine Labels

With multiple vineyards owned by the label, there is a wide range of wines able to be produced. In total Comando G lays claim to seven different labels across red and white varieties:

• El Tamboril
  
• La Bruja de Rozas
• Rozas 1er Cru
• Las Umbrias
• Tumba del Rey Moro
• El Tamboril Tinto
• Rumbo al Norte

Each of the estate's labels is uniquely created to express the individual terroirs and express different aspects of Garcia and Landi's tastes. The estate's most highly sought-after and acclaimed wines have come from the El Tamboril Tinto and Tumba del Rey Moro labels, each renowned for their high acidity, floral aromas, and spicy nature. Receiving praise from reputable critics like The Wine Advocate and James Suckling, Comando G wines have come to rival those from Burgundy and Bordeaux in recent years. And, as Garcia and Landi move to smaller productions for more intentional bottling, getting your hands on these gems has never come at a better time.