The tiny village of Paganos lies in the southernmost reaches of Spain’s Basque Country. Home to less than 100 people today, the Garcia de Olano family has been making wine here for at least 3 generations and possibly many more.
They established Bodegas Garcia de Olano in 1990 while bottling their wine in a small rented garage, common practice for grape growers in the area, and quickly found success from these humble beginnings. In 1997 they moved their operation up the road to a new winery, over-engineered with the capability of producing 1 million bottles per year.
Working well below those quantities today, Fernando, Jose Luis, and Jorge, the three brothers of the family, alongside Nagore, Jose’s wife, press on with producing excellent examples of the region’s typical wines.
Their vineyards, planted in the chalky-clay soil of the area, rest on south-facing slopes sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range to the north. With 40 hectares under vine, they farm sustainably, using no chemical treatments to ensure the best quality grapes. 90% of their land is dedicated to growing Tempranillo while the rest is planted with other traditional varieties of the area.
Nearby is Laguardia – a 10th century walled village where cars are not allowed due to the ancient tunnels and wine cellars directly below. One could find the wines of the Garcia de Olano family in the bars and restaurants there, however here in the United States, we are the first and only retailer of their wines!
| Fine Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1990 |
| Total Bottle Production | 200,000 |
| Total Cases Production | 16,667 |
| Hectares Planted | 40 |
| Acres Planted | 98.84 |
| Farming Method | Sustainable |
| … Since | 1990 |
| Certified | non-certified |
