Historic Vineyards in Spain's Sierra de Gredos Region Reported Destroyed

Wildfires have destroyed historic vineyards across some of Spain's most renowned wine regions. Spain is the world's third largest wine producer. Decades-old vineyards have been reported destroyed.

Growers in Avila and Madrid are reporting severe losses. Hannah Mallory of Gregory+Wine tells us that San Martin de Valdeiglesias is a subzone of DO Madrid, was where one of the fires started.

Like the Sierra de Gredos, they are known for older vineyards of Garnacha and Albillo Real. "I was messaging with a contact at the DO. Producers are still largely unable to access the area to assess damages, but it appears that the plowed vineyards in some cases were fire breaks that prevented further spread of the flames. Even if vineyards were spared, the smoke and ash probably caused extensive damages.

"Another problem is that the Abillo Real was ready to pick early last week, right when the fire started. Any white grapes that made it through will be overripe by the time they are able to access the area," she said.

El Abuelo Wine is among those facing the reality of losing entire plots. In La Rinconada (Ávila), two parcels totaling 10,000 square meters have been completely destroyed, while others have suffered partial damage or have narrowly escaped the flames, RusSpain reported.

The traditional layout of these vineyards, often surrounded by granite and adjacent to dry vegetation, has made them particularly vulnerable. EU regulations requiring ground cover between vine rows until June have inadvertently created pathways for fire to spread rapidly.

Although some vineyards have been devastated, others have narrowly avoided disaster. These include:

• Comando G, a highly regarded winery in Gredos, which managed to save its prized Las Iruelas plot, though smoke damage is expected to halve this year’s yield. Daniel Landi, one of the founders, highlights the broader issue of rural neglect and the challenges facing Spain’s primary sector. The debate over land use and fire prevention is intensifying as the region recovers.
• Bodega Marañones, San Martín de Valdeiglesias (Madrid), reports its 35 hectares remain untouched, though uncertainty lingers over the potential impact of smoke on the grapes.
• Bodegas y Viñedos Bernabeleva credits firefighters for saving its vineyards at the foot of the Cerro de Guisando. Access to some affected wineries, such as Las Moradas de San Martín, remains restricted as authorities continue their assessments.
• Maite Sánchez, oenologist at Arrayán, notes that most of her vineyards near Almorox (Toledo) and San Martín have been spared, with only minor damage in Cebreros. However, the risk of smoke taint remains a pressing issue for many producers.

José Luis Benítez, director general of the Federación Española del Vino, said the value of well-maintained vineyards as natural firebreaks should not be underestimated.

The overall picture remains grim, with the full extent of the damage still being mapped. The wine sector is only beginning to reckon with the consequences of this disaster.